Entertaining

Christmas Tablescape & Holiday Tips w/ a Few Favorite Recipes!

Easiest Bruschetta & Toast Recipe

Bruschetta & Toast Recipe

This dish is perfect in the Summer especially made with homegrown tomatoes and fresh basil! A light Summer dish everyone will love. My family could eat it a couple nights a week it’s so good!

Bruschetta & Toast Recipe:

Bruschetta:

4 large tomatoes chopped

1 onion chopped

2 cloves of garlic crushed

Fresh Parmesan cheese grated or shredded to your taste (we use about 1/2 cup)

1/2 balsamic vinegar (if you like more juice for dipping add more)

1 bunch of basil

1 tablespoon of Italian Seasoning

1 tablespoon of olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all together and serve with slices of fresh baguette or my garlic cheese toast below:

Garlic Cheese Toast:

8 slices of fresh Sourdough bread sliced

1 cube of butter

3 cloves of crushed garlic

1 tablespoon of Italian Seasoning

1 cup of Mozzarella shredded cheese

Melt butter, add garlic and seasonings brush generously on each piece of toast and top with cheese. Please in oven at 350 until golden brown or cheese is melted. (my boys likes it softer & gooey and my hubby crunchier)

You can serve this as an appetizer or make it a meal served with a salad. The bruschetta is also great served on the top of a grilled chicken breast.

Here is some of my favorite serving Trays {HERE} {HERE} {HERE} Bowls {HERE} {HERE} {HERE}

I hope you try this recipe and if you do please leave a comment, or even better snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@darcyvandenberg), I’d love to reshare! Have a great week OX, D’Arcy

This may contain affiliate links. Thank you for taking the time to read and for your support.

The Ultimate Summer Bucket List

With Summer arriving this week I thought it would be fun to share my Summer Bucket List with you. It seems Summer comes and goes in a blink of an eye! It is one of my favorite seasons here in Utah, it is also my favorite time to be out enjoying our state, plus our town is just beautiful this time of the year. Here is my Summer bucket list… I hope some of them make your list too:)

Summer Wildflowers: Free People Dress similar {HERE} Purse similar {HERE}

Summer brings the prettiest wildflowers which make for some very scenic drives along with all our beautiful lakes and mountains…. So making my list is a Scenic Drive to Mirror Lake, Bear Lake, Little Cottonwood Canyon and Sundance. I love a weekend drive in my hubby’s convertible to take in the sights and get some fresh air.

Skyline Trail Hike here in our town of Eden (Ogden Valley).

If you’ve been following me you know I belong to a woman’s hiking group and we still have quite a lot of Utah hikes we haven’t done. Here are FOUR Hikes that made my list to do this Summer: Wind Cave, {HERE} Donut Falls,{HERE} Fifth Water Hot Springs {HERE}and Cecret Lake.{HERE}

Serving Watermelon Pool side. Hat {HERE} Sunglasses dupes {HERE} Suit {HERE} Earrings {HERE}

Watermelon and Fruits of Summer is a pure pleasure and everyone loves good food and food Events. Hitting the Salt Lake City and Park City Farmers Market are on my list. Here in Utah several towns host a (Fruit Day) North Ogden has Cherry Days {info HERE}, Brigham City has Peach Days, Bear Lake has Raspberry Days, Melon Day is in Green River {More info on all 3 HERE} and Strawberry Days in Pleasant grove. {HERE}

Another great drive and has Fab Summer fruit is Utah’s Famous Fruit highway! {Here} This is always a must do!

Pool time at several Las Vegas pools kicked off my Summer! Moorea Beach club & Delano Beach Club @Mandalay Bay,

Pool time is a big Summer time pleasure and isn’t Summer without laying poolside or playing at a waterpark, am I right? Here are a few pool days that made my list: Grand America pool day, I’ve heard the cocktails are amazing and the food poolside is just as impressive as the hotel. {HERE} Cowabunga Bay Water Park {HERE} We haven’t been to a water Park in years and it always brought joy to my boys. I thought it would be fun to re-experience those playful childhood days with our boys… even though their young adults it’s always fun to be a kid!

Summer Trend Scarves and Shades! Top {HERE} Sunnies similar {HERE} Scarf {HERE}

Random things to do that make Summer fun that made my List, Bowling, It’s always fun to have something to do on a hot Summer day! A Drive in Movie (Every year I say I want to go and we never make it!) It’s going to happen this year… and I am not going to fall asleep! Last time I went to the drive in was with my Childhood friend Selena… We were in college and we BOTH fell asleep! We woke up to a dark empty parking lot at 1am! LOL!! Miniature golf because seriously who doesn’t love a good game of Miniature golf? It brings back memories of young Summer night dates! Summer Outdoor concerts we have tickets to Heart so far… but I know we’ll add more:) as the Summer plays out and it’s one of my favorite ways to enjoy an evening. Warm nights, listening to music, enjoying friends and a good beer! Some great outdoor concert venues {HERE} {HERE} {HERE} {HERE} Some are even FREE! The Rodeo one of my favorite days of the year. We love to attend the Tough Enough To Wear Pink night for breast cancer survivors! It’s a fun tradition we share with family and friends! It wouldn’t be Summer without attending this event! I cry everytime they sing the national anthem with the fly over. {HERE} This rodeo is ranked as one of the top five large outdoor rodeos in the PRCA. A weekend in Deer Valley is beautiful in the Summer. It has stunning hikes, beautiful pools, great restaurants, cooler air and great shopping perfect for a weekend getaway! A day at LAGOON {HERE} Utah’s amusement park nothing says Summer like an amusement park and we haven’t been as a family in years, so this year it’s on the list!

Purchasing the Get Out Pass if you live in Utah, Colorado, Washington and Idaho is so worth it for $149.99 with over $3,000 worth of yearly admissions per pass Save $35 with code Darcy35 My family will be enjoying several activities this Summer and Fall including Cowabunga Bay & Lagoon!

Bruschetta & Toast Recipe on Next week’s Blog post!

Summer Food: If you haven’t figured it out by now… My family are foodies! Summer means fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, BBQ’s, Summer cocktails, late night S’Mores by the fire, picnics on the boat and many Summer get togethers! My bucket list is to share more family recipes with you here on the blog. I’ve been sharing on my instastories and it has been very popular and very requested. I’ll start with my fresh Bruschetta made with Summers beautiful ripe tomatoes NEXT week….So stay tuned!

Summer also means for long days and a little more free time, which allows for us to explore new restaurants, read books and enjoy all the beautiful fresh bouquets from our yards. I look forward to this time of the year and soak in all the beauty Summer brings!

Summer Sunsets are the best on the lake! Paddle Boarding and boating are two places you’ll find me every Summer!

My Last Summer bucket list is to be able to make it to the BEACH! I need my toes in the Sand and the smell of salty air, it’s my inner peace and it’s calling my name! I hope your Summer brings you so much joy and you check off everything on your BUCKET LIST!

OX, D’Arcy

There’s nothing like the smell of the ocean and sand in your toes! California Lifeguard tower!

3 Ingredient, Quick & Easy Appetizer Perfect for the Holiday’s

Step 1 & 2 &3
unroll the crescent pack and use one section of 4 per each block of cream cheese. stretch dough out just a little and pinch the triangles together.
next: place cream cheese in center and cover with dill.

Step 4
cover the block of cream cheese with the crescent roll leave end unsealed and cut off a 1/2 inch strip from each end then pinch together the ends like shown. I really press everything together until smooth.

Step 5
cut strips into 10 smaller rectangles. Use the 10 pieces to create pedals and balls. Or create your own design. Brush with egg white if you wish. Step 6 repeat with other block of cream cheese and remaining 4 crescents.

Step 7 place in a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees until golden brown. ( the egg white wash helps it brown golden)

Step 8 serve warm with crackers.

Step 9 Spread it on a cracker of your choice. This goes quick and doesn’t last at parties. It take about 15 mins to prepare and 15 min in oven (depending on oven)

Hello Beautiful’s!

I hope you had a wonderful week. I know I love when we get an extra week from Thanksgiving to December. It really does help you be more prepared for the Christmas season. With all the Holiday parties fast approaching, I am sure you will be attending one or two that requires you to bring a dish or appetizer to share. I wanted to share with you our families fast and easy appetizer! Crescent dill cream cheese spread. You’ll whip this up so fast and people will think you slaved for hours. It’s been a favorite in our home for twenty something years and I always have the ingredients on hand so I can whip it up on a moments notice! A great tip if you have visitors popping by.

You’ll need:

1 can of crescent rolls

2 cream cheese blocks

Dill seasoning

and 1 egg for egg whites, brush on top before baking

9×9 baking pan

butter or spray to grease pan

Follow the steps above. I love you can pre make a day or two before hand (Non- baked) stick in fridge. Bake right before you’re heading to party.

I hope you’ll try this yummy dish for one of your Holiday parties and stop back by here and tell me how everyone liked it! Here’s to a perfect and easy Holiday season! OX, D’Arcy

Thanksgiving Dining Tablescape

Vintage silverware, gold and silver china, gold and silver accessories, woodland accessories, bristle trees, bottle trees, place settings, antlers, woodland.

Vintage pearl& gold silverware {Similar HERE} & {HERE}, gold and silver china, {SIMILAR HERE} gold and silver accessories, woodland accessories, {SIMILAR HERE}&{HERE} bristle trees, bottle trees, {HERE}&{HERE}place settings, antlers, woodland place card holders, layered table clothes{SIMILAR HERE} &{HERE} and gold dipped steam wear glasses {SIMILAR HERE} {HERE} adorn our table top.

Our kitchen coffee & coco bar. Who doesn’t love a warm drink in the winter?

Happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours!

I wanted to share our Thanksgiving table setting with you. It’s not the traditional Fall feel with leaves and pumpkins, I went with a winter white, silver, and gold theme. It feels elegant and warm don’t you think? To give it a Thanksgiving feel I picked up this fun silver pheasant from Target and added antlers and wooden details. TIP: for adding layers to your table-scape find items around your home that work in your color/theme. Pay attention to heights, find items from low to high, but not too high that you can’t see around it. I love pieces that are general and don’t scream a certain holiday so you can use them more often. Items like glass, mercury glass, and solid colors like gold, silver, white, and red (red works for Christmas, Valentines day and Summer). Pieces that give your table a glow like candles, votives, and candle sticks are great pieces to collect. Another TIP I love to share is layer your tablecloth, this works great if you don’t have the perfect size for your table. Here I used a large plain white tablecloth that fits the table and to add a pop of design. I used the gold stripe tablecloth that was meant for a smaller table but you would wouldn’t notice it doesn’t fit the table because of the layering. I also like to layer different tablecloths of different sizes if you don’t have one that fits! Just remember they need to be in the same color family for it to work. Our table is for 8, yet I always buy everything in sets of 12. I do this in case anything breaks or if I have extra people we can make a kid table for 4 at our kitchen island. It is also because I am a little bit of a collector….(my boys are going to hate me when I die!)

I just love collecting things to entertain and make life beautiful, I can throw any kind of party on a moments notice because of the pieces i’ve collected over the years! So If you’re wanting to build your entertaining collection keep following along with me. I plan on sharing more of my entertaining tips and collections with you as I have had so many of you ask for me to share this part of my life. Would you like a list of my basic entertaining starter kit? This would be the must have items and then be able to build from that. *If so please leave a comment below.

I love Thanksgiving and spending time with family and friends over good food and I know you do too! So next time make it a beautiful experience and share your love over a beautiful designed table, there is no better way to show off the hard work you spent in the kitchen. TIP: You can build your perfect table-scape weeks before to take the pressure off.

May you have a beautiful Thanksgiving, yummy food and a great time with your family and friends. We’ll be having a Friendsgiving as all of our family is out of town. OX, D’Arcy

PS: Are you excited for Black Friday or do you stay home and put up Christmas? This is my first year not in retail for the Holidays and I can’t tell you how excited I am! I’ll be staying home to decorate and enjoy my family. I will be shopping a little online and I can’t wait to share with you all the deals I found this week for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday! My DEAL post will go live tonight at MIDNIGHT!

This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own and I appreciate your support.

3 Way’s to entertain with ease!

{Dress} here and similar Here, here here. {Shoe} here and similar here {bar cart} Vintage but Similar Here and here {glasses} Here and Similar here {home} target $3 bin Sold out Similar here {ring} sold out, similar here and here

Hello Beautiful’s,

I want to share with you 3 easy way’s to entertain with easy! You know how much I love to entertain and I love quick impromptu small gatherings. I found some easy way’s to make for a “pop over visit”for a girl’s night or a Couple’s date night!

#1 Make it simple, you can have a great night without having to slave in the kitchen. I love having people over for drinks and a simple appetizer or one of my favorite’s is, Dessert and drinks after having dinner out! This allows you to keep it simple and not have to take a lot of time to prepare.

#2 Being Prepared! Having a few entertaining piece’s you love. Pretty glasses, a great serving tray or bowl. Even having a bar cart (even if you don’t drink) It makes serving easy, yet keeps your theme in check! View some of my favorite past bar cart tips Here, here and here!

#3 Keep the drink and food easy! Paring a great champagne or Prosecco with a fruit patter or my favorite Strawberries and homemade fruit dip! (my family’s favorite & it’s quick!) Recipe below! If you want to serve a cocktail, I alway’s suggest a specially cocktail ( find out what your guest alcohol choice is) create a drink around that! Say it’s vodka, you can make a Moscow mule and serve with a cheese and cracker platter or a great crudite’s platter. Serving 1 kind of drink helps you to enjoy your company and not having to act as a bartender! I love drinks I can make in a pitcher! Sangria, Rum punch, Vodka lemonade, Mojitos.

Entertaining doesn’t have to be expensive or hours of time! Some of my most favorite get together’s happened spur of the moment! This is why being prepared is key! I can have friends drop over at any time and I can easily throw something together. Here is a list of some of the things I like to alway’s have in my pantry and fridge, this helps you entertain quick and with ease.

Assortment of cheeses (even cream cheese or boursin, these make a great veggie dip)

Assortment of crackers and nuts

Fresh fruit and veggies

A bottle of wine, vodka, Rum

Club soda or La croix

Having these items on hand, really helps for throwing a quick and yummy platter together fast! Who doesn’t love to snack on these! As for the drink’s I found if you have these staples you can create something, even if it’s a wine spritzer with fresh fruit!

Strawberry dip recipe:

A jar of Marshmallow fluff

A Block of Cream cheese

A teaspoon of vanilla

mix all ingredients together, serve in pretty bowl with strawberries. Yum! (it’s great to dip strawberry in champagne first, then in dip!)

I hope you throw a fun and easy get together soon! OX, D’Arcy

This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Thank you for your support!

Pumpkin Chocolate chip cookies, A family favorite!

white kitchen, butcher block top, kitchen aid mixer

Pumpkin spice chocolate chip cookie recipe with 3 ingredients, so easy to make and low fat!

Happy Friday Beautiful’s!

I wanted to hop on here and share a quick family favorite cookie recipe with you! Pumpkin Chocolate chip cookies, that is so easy to make you’ll whip up a couple batches so fast you’re family will love you like mine does when I make these yummy little treats! I always make a double batch and freeze some or take a plate to a weekend gathering. It’s 3 ingredient’s… Yes 3 ingredient’s and it’s low fat, I am telling you these are so yummy, my family can truly eat a whole batch in a day, if I don’t freeze some or make a plate for a gift. I make these a lot in the fall but my family really likes them no matter the season!

You’ll need:

1 box of your favorite Spice cake mix

1 regular size can of Pumpkin

2 cups of chocolate chips

A small Ice cream scoop, mixer, bowl, cookie sheet or two….

Mix all the ingredients together, Scoop up with a ice cream scoop ( I use the small scoop) place on a greased or lined cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 9-12 minutes depending on your stove. makes 2-3 dozen

Truly the easiest cookies you’ll ever make and nobody would know you didn’t sweat over them!

I hope you make a batch soon and tell me how you and you’re family liked (loved) them! Ox, D’Arcy

Father’s Day Gift guide & Dessert Bar

Every yummy dessert needs a glass of milk! How cute is it served in mustache cup and a paper straw! Dad will be so happy to have this cute little dessert bar served at your BBQ!

Bacon & Bourbon Brownies, My hubby ate 3 in a minute! Needless to say he loved them! A Father’s day dessert bar serving, party cookies and brownies! You know I love to entertain and putting this together with the help of The Coco House made it super easy, she created all of the desserts, Bacon and bourbon brownies, #1 dad, Top pop & beer mug cookies! Shipped to my door for a darling and easy to put together dessert bar, the men in your life will love! All I had to do was grab some serving pieces, the DAD blocks my son made in kindergarten, a pom pom garland & straws that matched the baked goods. Simple and so festive.

The Coco House
A Los Angeles Pastry Chef, Erica Kelly (that happens to be my cousin!) is so talented and everything taste amazing, helps to make any dessert bar to look perfect! She’ll ship it right to your door! Make sure to go follow her on instagram &
shop her on instagram @thecocohousela Here or shop her cupcake toppers Here

Gift Guide for Dad’s of all kinds

Father’s Day Gift Guide… Trying to make your gift ideas easy & will still make it in time for Father’s Day. Something for every type of Dad! The traveler, The foodie, The cool dad, Sporty dad and dad’s with hair:)

{1} {2} {3} {4} {5} {6} {7} {8} {9}

Shop The guide by clicking on the number.

I kept in mind all types of dad’s, when I created this fun shopping guide. I love Shopbop and that, they really do have something for everyone. My hubby and our dad’s would love everything on this list. I also put in items for every budget. Really hoping I could help inspire you to give something the Father’s in your life would love.

Shopbop is having an extra 25% off sale item’s with code SCORE18 at check out, if shopping their sale section.

Do you have a fun Father’s day tradition? Or do you have any fun plans? Both our parent’s live out of state, so we don’t celebrate with them any more, but they’re celebrated for sure! We’re lucky to have such great men and role models in our lives for our boys. My hubby is happy to go to the lake or have a BBQ, so no big plans here yet. I have to say all the boys at our home already enjoyed the dessert bar, I joked to my hubby “Happy Father’s day!” we’re celebrating tonight! He’s so easy going he’d be ok with that!

I hope what ever you do or how you celebrate the father’s in your lives, that you have a great time and that they realize how important and loved they are! Enjoy your day! OX, D’Arcy

This post was in collaboration with The Coco House and may contain affiliate links. I only promote brands that I love and believe in! Thank you for the support!

Bar Cart Friday! Fun way to Entertain…

Happy Friday Beautiful’s!

Just a quick little post for Friday Bar cart Beautiful!

Today I wanted to share with you a fun little date night or even Boy’s Game night idea for your bar cart! Super easy & quick to throw together idea for a fun Night. Just a couple Items to throw this look together! If you’ve been following me you know I love to entertain and have been a collector of thing’s I think will make for good serving pieces or fun props that you can use over & over! Here’s some tips on what to look for to make your carts come together with easy….

I love the Word BAR I picked up at Homegoods and use a ton! Look for words you would use like EAT & Yum if you don’t drink! (Bar can be used for…. Candy BAR, Coco BAR, Cup cake BAR) You get the Idea! I love trays and consider this Coke Cola crate a tray (found mine on etsy) Collect fun Cups that can be used for multiple occasions. These lidded Mason jar glasses work great for picnic’s, Ice Tea, lemonade and perfect for game or movie night! I save cute bottle or cool soda cans and use as props. Glass jars are great to serve food and treats out of! Use things around your house…Like games, silk flowers, real plants, candles, books for risers Etc.

Collecting serving pieces & glass ware that can serve multiple occasions is smart… Don’t get to caught up in a theme you might not be able to get multiple looks out of it! Think Glass, White, solid colors or a pattern if you can use it for multiple seasons or holiday’s! ( I collect black and white stripes and polka dots) Which can be used for many occasions!

See my other Bar Cart idea’s Here…… BBQ, Tropical, Cinco de Mayo, Vacation ready, Girl’s Movie night, Summer weekend

Hoping you are enjoying My Bar cart Beautiful Series!

Have a great weekend Beautiful’s! Ox, D’Arcy

Friday’s Bar cart Beautiful= Summer Weekend

Hello Beautiful’s!

It’s time for Friday Bar cart styling = Hot summer night’s Nautical theme & Watermelon Moscow mules….

I hope your having a wonderful Summer! It’s been a really HOT summer in Utah! All anyone wants to do is float in the water or do something indoors! So I hope your staying cool!

We live in a lake town in Utah and I am a California girl at heart! So the nautical themed bar cart for Summer just feels perfect! This would be cute by your pool or a cute Summer Birthday party theme.

I don’t know if you remember a couple months back, when I decorated the Junior Leagues annual Gala? It was ” A night at the Cape”…. Which had me collecting a ton of nautical decor! (I had to do something with it!) Another inspiration for our Summer Bar cart! I hope this inspires you to have fun with your Bar cart and decorate it for the seasons!

My Favorite Drink these day’s is my Watermelon Moscow Mule cocktail creation! Yum! You can make a Mocktail by leaving out the vodka..

A copper cup ( I think it’s a must)

Ginger beer (our fav is Fever Tree) 1 bottle makes 2 drinks

club soda

vodka (leave out if making Mocktail)

lime

mint for garnish

3 slices of watermelon

ice

Fill your copper mug with Ice, pour 2 shots of vodka in mug, squeeze in the lime add to side for garnish, use 1/2 of the ginger beer in each mug….set aside!

cut up 1 water melon slice into 2 for garnish and other 2 watermelon slice’s put in plastic bag and smash into juice…

add juice to both mugs you set aside & stir top off with club soda and finish garnishing with watermelon slice a sprig of mint! YUM…If you try it leave me a comment and tell me how you liked it!

Hope your enjoying your Summer loves! OX, D’Arcy