lifestyle Archives - Page 19 of 27

Easy Homemade Pico De Gallo and Guacamole

I love sharing my family’s favorite recipes with you. Hoping you enjoy trying them as well. I share “In the Kitchen with D’Arcy “on Instagram on Sundays, sharing recipes, food tips, and Recipes I may not share here. I also share Cooking videos and entertaining ideas. Find them HERE. I often share live videos of my cooking everyday meals and what I eat daily in my Instagram stories if you like getting new ideas. I saved them in Highlight Tabs HERE HERE HERE if you miss them. Happy Cooking!

Homemade Pico De Gallo and Guacamole served with Flautas, chips, and shredded cheese.

Pico De Gallo and Guacamole are made from scratch, so easy you can whip them up in minutes. I think Your family will love it as much as mine. (if they love Mexican food and enjoy a tasty snack) It is a great snack with chips and perfect toppings or sides, along with Mexican dishes. This is requested in our home at least once a week. This is always a hit at parties (I double or triple the batch). Enjoy!

Homemade Pico d Gallo

4 Tomatoes chopped

1 Onion chopped

1 or 2 Jalapeños ( depending on the heat you like)

1/2 bushel cilantro chopped

One lime ( juice of)

Add all ingredients, stir well, and enjoy… with your favorite chip.

We like THESE

Guacamole

Three ripe avocados chopped/mashed

Two large scoops of my Pico DeGallo above ( more if you want)

Salt and pepper to taste

One teaspoon garlic salt

Mix all together and serve with your favorite chip, on sourdough toast with an egg and tomatoes, or with a veggie tray.

Do you want a slightly different taste and yummy food? Add one tablespoon of Everything Bagel seasoning or this seasoning.

Do you need fun serving pieces? Here are a few I love and use to serve my Chips, pico de gallo, and Guacamole!

Thank you for stopping by.

Let me know if you try Recipe; I would love to hear from you in the comments below. Thank you for stopping by and reading. Easy Homemade Pico De Gallo and Guacamole”

You can do that here if you haven’t signed up for my weekly

Class of 2021, Unisex Gifts for the Graduate!

Congratulations to the Class of 2021. We have our own graduate in the house and are excited to share some gifts he’d approve of. This is such an important time in the graduate’s life and for the parents as well. Starting a new chapter in life, whether the graduate is headed off to live in college dorms, move out on their own or live at home while attending school or starting a career. Even some great ideas if they’re headed on a senior trip! Therefore I picked gifts that any graduate could use no matter their next steps.

A proud mom of a class of 2021 graduate had to show off below a few Senior photos and announcements. This week over on Instagram is a week full of all things Graduation. From celebration Ideas, what to wear to celebrate, and a couple of proud mom moments. Here’s a sneak peek HERE and HERE.

I adore this photo! It makes this mama’s heart soar! I snapped this photo of Hampton right before they called his name to the stage. I think it captures the happiness he’s feeling in his eyes. We’re so proud of what this boy has overcome to get here.

Congratulation to the graduate and to the parents who raised them! Good luck to the class of 2021, and may you enjoy the upcoming moments and celebrations. To those needing gift ideas to celebrate those graduates, here are my picks below and even Hampton approved!

Class of 2021, Unisex Gifts for the Graduate!

Shop to post:

The gifts above are perfect for a college bond student, a traveling student, and a career-bound adult. Everyone needs good sheets, an extra charger and a cozy robe (yes, it’s unisex and oh so cozy) A cozy blanket to keep them warm while studying. Organizing is a must once (adulting hard work). Travel cubes are wonderful for keeping items organized and saving space. A toiletry bag is perfect for travel yet essential for dorm living—a Yeti mug to keep that coffee warm for long studying nights. I don’t know a single graduate who wouldn’t want an Apple watch.

Shop the Post:

The above list has a couple of personal items and some fun ideas, and one special gift for the girl on your list. (although all the items are unisex, even the scarf) I know my graduate would love these items.

Because our family loves satin pillowcases, the boys included! I thought it would serve as a great gift to others. A cozy scarf is always a thoughtful gift; a mug and mug warmer comes in many colors. And a great backpack is a must to carry all those learning materials and studying tools:) another great option for a throw; everybody wants something cozy while studying. Because staying hydrated is essential, a water bottle is so important and a great gift option. Kiehl’s lotion is a splurge and an extraordinary gift that they wouldn’t buy for themselves. An extra set of crisp white towels because you can never have enough towels.

Hoping I inspired you to purchase something practical& thoughtful for your Graduate! Congratulations to your graduate as well.

5 Mother’s Day Gift Guides She’ll Love

Gift guides

Gift guide for the blush lover.

5 Mother’s Day Gift Guides She’ll Love

Hello Pretty Ladies, Can you believe it’s the first of May and Mother’s Day is just a week away? I created 5 Gift guides that should cover most mamas out there. To help you find that perfect gift she’ll love. All items are in stock for fast shipping and even ship directly to your loved one.

5 Mother’s Day Gift Guides She’ll Love: For the Blush lover, The Beauty obsessed, The Homebody, The cook, and the Cocktail creator.

Gift Guide for the Blush Lover: If your Mama is like me and loves the color blush or Pink, the above gift guide should help you find just the right gift. From $12 to $180, there is something she should love.

The Keurig Single-cup coffee pot $69*
Cupcake pink bubble’ $12*
Tie-dye lounge set $20
20′ Hardcase carry on $79.99
Volcano Candle $21-178*
The Lollia petite Hand cream gift set $46*
Monogram linked chain Bracelet $28
Eyelet sleeve top $98
Barefoot dream blanket $180*

Items* I actually own and adore! Some of my all-time favorite items.

Shop the post below:

The Beauty Obsessed:

This guide is all the beauty items I use regularly and often talk about on Instagram stories and shares. I have a blog post written on most of these items, and truly you can’t go wrong with any of these picks. The beauty lover mama will love any of these picks.

The Homebody Mama:

All the comforts of Home. For the Mama that loves her space, she likes a mix of boho or farmhouse. Here are a few of my picks. I have several of these items as well. You know I don’t share things I don’t love and use, or maybe want myself!

The cook:

The beautiful and affordable pieces that any cook or entertainer would love. Make the cooking Mama so happy with any of the above items.

The Charcuterie Board loving Mom will love this fun book, also perfect for the cheese lover. A how-to guide shows you how to craft the most scrumptious cheese boards! This book is on my list!

The Cocktail Creating Mama:

I love a good cocktail, and I love a pretty bar or cart even more. Does the lady in your life as well? If so, she’ll love some of my must-have items for serving up a great cocktail in a pretty space.

I love this time of the year, All the pretty blooms, the Pastel colors, dresses, and open-toed shoes. I fell in love with this Romper and thought it would be perfect for Mother’s day brunch. ( It seems short, but it is a 7-inch inseam, and it is a romper, so shorts are underneath. (reminder I am 5’9 1/2 and have long legs)

Shop the look below:

Just a little tip when you go to write that Mother’s Day card: How do you express how much she means to you when she is quite simply everything? She’s strong, funny, and beautiful, and while you can write, “I love you,” she’ll certainly appreciate a more meaningful message. Remember to write from the heart and to give her your time. That is what she will love the most.

I hope you have a beautiful week, and if you’re a mama, a Happy Mother’s Day.

Joining me this week and sharing some fun Mother’s day gift guides as well:

Cindy= LuLuloves7

Cammi= Cammie’s Happy Place

Lisa’s= Coast2coast

Michelle= Poised Petite

9 Things You Need For Your Fitness Goals In 2021

9 Things You Needed For Your Fitness Goals In 2021

Let’s talk about fitness

Let’s talk about fitness; not something I talk a lot about. Fitness isn’t something I talk about because, well… I don’t love it! However, s I get older, staying active is even more critical. I’m not a gym girl at all. However, I do love pilates, yoga, and weight classes.

It’s not something I do regularly, but I am trying hard to do it. Adding these in more frequently has been something I am working on. I’ve always been very flexible; this has started to change. Losing my flexibility was something I didn’t want to lose, and I have prioritized staying flexible.

Exercise I do like

I like a good walk with my hubby, friends, or family. A good hike with the girls is always fun and an adventure, and being outside in the fresh air and getting the much-needed vitamin C is how I prefer to get in my exercise.

I know how important it is to keep your flexibility and muscle mass up. This year, I am making a better attempt to add some strength training, a kettlebell, and more yoga and pilates. Adding meditation is new to me but has been much needed for my mind and spirit.

Here are a few pieces I love, perfect for workouts, hikes, and even lounging.

Above, I thought I would share some things I love and use now.

9 Things You’ll love

Lulu lemon sports bra= I love the soft fabric and support.
Lulu Lemon Legging= I love it comes in 3 lengths (I need the longest). Firstly, these are not see-through like some of the Lululemons I’ve had before. Instead, the fabric is butter soft and holds you in.
Yoga mat= I love everything about this mat, the feel, the comfort, and the design.
Northface jacket= I love a puffer jacket, and it is much needed in Utah. Winter and even Spring walks can be very chilly. Warm, comfortable, and stylish.
Water bottle= I love the timelines marked to keep me on track. Drinking a lot of water daily has always been important to me, and this helps.
Kettelbell= 10 pounds, not a ton of weight, but it gives you a good workout.
Meditation cushion= perfect for that quiet time. I love the look and comfort.
Collagen powder= is So essential for your joints and benefits your hair, nails, and skin.
Walking shoes= are so affordable and comfortable. I love the style and comfort.

Collagen is something everyone needs, but even more critical as we age. I add it to my coffee or tea in the morning. I have seen a massive difference in my hair, nails, and, most importantly, my knees.

Yoga is excellent for flexibility, core strength, and your mind. If your weather is nice, try it outside, I promise you’ll love the sense of peace. Not to mention the importance of Vitamin C. Grab a girlfriend if you need a little nudge. (I use a Yoga class on Youtube) You only need 15-30 mins a day to see results. Here’s one I like HERE. For a successful Meditation, you only need 10-15 min daily. Meditation HERE

Also happy to share my blogging Friends with you today. Please hop over to their blogs to see ways they get into fitness!

Cindy=Lululoves7_

Michelle=Poised Petite

Lisa= Coast to Coast 2

I hope you have a great rest of your week.

Basically, You’ll like this post; you might also enjoy these:

UTAH HIKE

7 BEAUTY HACKS AT HOME

20 FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT STAYING HOME

Cozy Must Haves For Winter

Happy New Year, and welcome to my First Blog post of 2021. Can you believe 2020 is finally over? Hoping 2021 brings us more of what we all need, as I know everyone’s needs will be different, and your goals will look different but know I wish you Love, Health, and blessings for 2021.

Cozy Must-Haves For Winter! Items you need to feel cozy soft, and warm this Winter. These are some of my most loved pieces for Home & fashion.

❄️Winter in Utah, you need various beanies, fur jackets, scarfs, and boots, along with comfy sweaters and leggings for layering.❤️❄️❤️❄️ I’ve been sharing all things cozy and warm this week over on Instagram, and I thought it would be fun to do a blog post sharing all the details in one place. Including ALL my favorite tried and true Winter cozy pieces. Adding to the fun, I teaming up with a couple of blogger friends to share their cozy picks as well. I’ll link their blogs at the end of my post.

Here are a few of my go-to pieces ✔️ Not only functional & cozy but stylish too. Shop this look HERE

Cozy Must-Haves for Winter… Must include boots, and these cute Joan of Arch boots are a must. I have had them for at least 3 seasons and have worn them to death—my favorite Snow boot by far. I love the built-in wedge, the support is amazing, and the comfort is so cozy and warm you’ll live in them all Winter long as I do. Comes in a variety of colors and with or without the sherpa detail. Let’s not forget the traction walking in the snow is amazing. Shop this look HERE

Shop more amazing Winter boots below:

How I feel about my NEW Cozy Teddy coat🎉❄️

I talked about this fab teddy coat in my Instagram stories the other day… and let me tell you… you guys were just as excited as I was❤️ My dm was full of sweet comments and questions:) about this cozy winter must-have. I’ll try to answer some of the questions below.

❄️

I would size down (I am in a small) normally would do Med…. they do have XSM-LG, it’s fully in stock, and I’ve linked it HERE, I am telling you, you won’t be sad about this purchase at all, and it’s a coat you’ll love for years:) Perfect for that ski trip you have coming up or that mountain cabin escape ✔️ ; the stitch detail is beautiful. I love you could wear this cute casual or dress it up.

Shop the outfit here as well:

Cozy must-haves for Winter Gift guide. Yes, I know it’s January 2021, but this Gift Guide I created the last week of December was too good not to share. Some of my all-time favorite cozy must-haves for Winter are right here all in one place. Seriously all pieces I own, use, and give as gifts. You’ll love them for yourself or to give as gifts as well. Shop the photo HERE

Shop more cozy items below:

The sweater you’ll live in all season long (I know I have been ) Perfect lightweight knit, so soft, and the tunic style with scoop side is perfect to wear with leggings. It comes in 4 colors & yes, I own a couple of colors, and you’ll also want. Seriously that good! And of course, my favorite cozy must-have leggings are Spanx leggings. I own several pairs, and I suggest sizing up one size. These leggings are truly miracle workers hold you in, give you support, all while fitting and feeling amazing.

Shop my look HERE

NOW, GO check out my blogging friends:

Michelle: Poised Petite

Lisa: Coast to Coast 2

Cindy: Lulu Loves 7_

Hoping you Have a Happy New Year and a Cozy couple of Winter months.

Holiday Target Haul from Home to gifts for her.

Holiday Target Haul from Home to gifts for her. All at very affordable prices. I purchased all items, used them in our home, gave them as gifts, or purchased them for myself. (let’s face it, we all add a little something in the cart for ourselves while shopping. Right? Don’t tell me I am the only one that does that!

MTV Sweatshirt $17.99 2. Tie-Dyed sweatshirt $17.99. 3. Rolling Stones Sweatshirt $19.99 4.Cable knit sweater $20.00 5. Pearl Sweater $27.99 6. Ruffle Sweater $25.00 7. Puffy Jacket $25.00 8. Faux Fur coat $ 40.00 9. Plaid Jacket $40.00

Slipper Sock $10.00 2. Hair clip sets $10.00. 3 Plush slippers $10.00 4. Jewelry Holder $25 5. Mini Waffel maker $10.00 6. Knit Scarf $17.00 7. Emergency gift set $7.00 8. Multirow Pearls $19.99 9. Knit Beanie $15.00

Holiday Target Haul from Home to gifts for her.

Shop the photo below:

Hot Cocoa and Coffee Tiered tray. Are you on the hunt for some very cute festive Mugs to serve your Holiday drinks in? I found some very cute ones at Target along with some yummy treats to dress up those Drinks. I’ll have the Shopping details for the tiered tray along with more of our home decor on my Saturday morning Holiday Home Tour, Blog post, and IGTV Home tour Round up. ( Make sure you tune into Instagram on Saturday morning…Because I’ll be posting a full Home tour along with 5 of my fabulous friends who love to decorate as I do. And let me tell you they have outdone themselves. Shop the post below.

I hope you loved some of my gift ideas and home decor picks as much as I did. Have a beautiful week, and make sure to come back on Saturday.

If you enjoyed this post, I think you might also love these:

Holiday Gift Guides

Mother’s Gift-giving Guide

Holiday Outfit’s Fox 13 News Segment

This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own. I only promote brands that I truly love and believe in! Thank you for your support!

Build Your Own Pizza Bar for a Fun family Meal

Build Your Pizza Bar for a Fun Family Meal

Build Your Pizza Bar

On pizza night … we were using some leftovers and homemade ingredients.

Use up those leftovers and create a Pizza night your Family will love. They can make their own and get creative to try new things. So if you plan your meals for the week and have a pasta night a few nights before, it works out great. Because I like to space out Italian food a couple of days apart, this helps to use up those little bits of leftovers you may have had.

What you need to build a pizza bar:

Rhodes rolls

Homemade Alfredo sauce recipe here

Homemade marinara or your favorite Jar

Asparagus (leftovers)

Sautés Mushrooms (leftovers)

Ham ( leftover Easter) That I had thrown in the freezer

Fresh sliced tomatoes

Mozzarella, Asiago, Romano, Parmesan cheese (leftover from this week’s Fettuccine night)

Chopped Garlic

Fresh Rosemary

Fresh Basil

Green onions

Olives

Italian seasonings

Garlic powder

Onion salt

Sea Salt

Balsamic glaze or vinegar

Olive oil

Preheat oven to 425 unless you have a pizza oven. We cook them for 10 or 12 minutes, depending on the range! It also depends on how crispy you like your pizza.

Tip using Rhodes Rolls to make the mini Pizzas.

These make individual mini pizzas. Ensure you do enough rolls per person; I did 2-3 per person. (for the rolls, follow the directions on the bag) Then after they’ve risen all day, each person flattens and pulls theirs out to shape and top with desired toppings. Some family members made little calzone instead of a mini pizza.

Building the Pizza Bar

Part of Building Your Own Pizza Bar’s fun is getting as creative as possible and trying different things on your pizza. My Family loves this interactive meal; it’s fun to hear them chat, joke, and talk their way through creating their pizzas.

For fun kitchen Gadgets, check out my Amazon Shop HERE.

Blogger Friends:

This week I joined some of my Blogger girlfriends in a recipe share because It’s always fun in the kitchen. So please check their blogs and see what was cooking or mixing up in their kitchens.

Rosemary = Distinctly Southern Style

Gwen= Gwen Live well

Kim= For a Good Life

Rebecca= R You Ready to Organize

LeNysha= Fifty Fab and Traveling

Sherri= A Woman Thing

Heidi = Simply Our Society

Here are a few more recipes I thought you would like:

Ben’s Heavenly Homemade Fettuccine

Easiest Bruschetta & Toast Recipe

Best Homemade Salsa Recipe

Thank you for stopping by this week. I hope you enjoyed our recipe share!

Have a beautiful day, pretty ladies,

This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own. I only promote brands that I genuinely love and believe in! Thank you for your support!

10 Summer Favorites I Can’t Live Without!

10 Summer Favorites I Can’t Live Without! I hope you won’t be able to live without them either. Summer is one of my favorite seasons, being outside enjoying the weather, dining outside, enjoying the gardens, and the long days along with pool & lake time and entertaining outdoors. With all the fun things to do, you’ll need to look good doing them, right? Here are my 10 Summer favorites I can’t live without!

Shorts, I love every length short, but the Bermuda shorts are one of this seasons biggest trends. In every shade, style, and color, you can’t go wrong with a Bermuda short. They look great paired with a blazer too. Easy to wear and even easier to style. Anything goes with a cute pair of Bermudas. Here are some of my favorites.

Sandals are making my top 10 Summer favorite’s. I can’t live without, and I found some adorable ones I have been wearing to death. My picks are sandals you’ll wear all Summer long and truly are some classics you’ll be able to wear for several Summer seasons.

Summer dresses are one of my top Summer favorites. So comfortable to wear, easy to style, and keeps you looking Chic without a lot of effort. Here are some of my favorites and so affordable.

Summer Cover up’s, and I adore this built-in Spf cover-up by Cabana Life. Stylish, true to size, and made of terry cloth.

One of My Summer’s favorites I can’t live without is grabbing a Summer read it’s perfect for catching some rays and soaking up the pages poolside. I am CURRENTLY reading Life gives you LULULemons. You’ll always catch me with an Ice tea in my hand, it’s my favorite for every season! This Summer I am so happy I have Sunnies that are readers too! HERE Shop my photo below.

Coola Self Tanner is a must along with sunscreen for your Summer days. This self-tanner gives you such a beautiful glow and natural-looking tan. I love the face tanner and Oil mist too. Shop my picks below

Summer means BBQs and family gatherings, and I have found Butcher Box home delivery makes it even easier to entertain for the Summer. Delicious 100% grass-fed beef, free-range organic chicken, heritage-breed pork, and wild-caught seafood. An unbeatable value with an average of less than $6 per meal. Great -tasting, high-quality meat you can feel good about, delivered right to your doorstep. (Free Shipping) My family loves this meat and said it is the best meat they have eaten. (remember I am a mom of boys and they are big foodies) Our Vacations are planned around where they want to eat! Comes fresh frozen in dry ice packs and ready for your freezer. It’s a must for my TOP 10 Summer Favorite’s, and it will be for yours too. I love it to help build up my food storage too. (I am a Butcher box partner) Shop HERE

Making the 10 Summer Favorites you can’t live without! Summer Salads and one of my favorites would-be my Greek salad, So refreshing and light, I could eat it every day. This salad is so easy to make and you’ll love how tasty it is. You can eat it on a bed of romaine lettuce and a side of grilled chicken or just plain.

Greek Salad:

4 on the vine tomatoes cup up

1 English Cucumber cut up

1 cup Kalamata Olives

1 cup red onion chopped up

Italian dressing of your choice

Feta cheese (if doing whole30 leave off) use the amount you like

Add all items together and mix with dressing (I leave the cheese out and top my salad when I serve) As this makes enough for 4 servings. I like to make a batch and have it for a couple of lunches. Serve as is or on a bed of Lettuce of your choice, also great with grilled chicken.

I really enjoyed sharing with you a few of my Summer favorites and I have a few friends that are also sharing their favorites today as well. I hope you’ll go check them out. Have a Beautiful Summer day. OX, D’Arcy

Heidi =www.simplyoursociety.com

Gwen=www.gwenliveswell.com

Sherri=A woman thing

Michele=Hot Flash and Sass

Lerysha=www.fiftyfabandtraveling.com

Rosemary=Distinctly Southern Style

Melanie=Mels 2nd act

Kim=For a good life after 50

June Instagram Recap

June Instagram Recap: Summer dress outfit had all of you in love. Paired with some of my favorites, you guys love Summer dresses, and I am listening. Shop this look HERE

Summer linen is one of my favorite things and yours too. You guys purchased a ton of these pants HERE, and I wasn’t surprised because they are one of my favorite things, easy to style, and were on SALE. SHOP look HERE

Summer dresses Affordable Summer tee shirt dresses perfect for Summer. Comfortable to wear and even easier to style. Wear plain with your favorite flip flops or tennis shoes or wear as I have in the above photo paired with a hat, denim jacket, sandals and, a summer bag. Shop the Look HERE This was a TOP look you loved on Instagram. Below I have featured several affordable and comfortable to wear tee shirt dresses. #teeshirtdresses

This Outfit and Caption from Instagram had you all laughing, and that was my point! We sure needed this lighthearted and funny post. If you missed it, read it HERE and shop it HERE.

June Instagram Recap: Instagram story’s favorite and one of my personnel favorites as well. These Splattered paint cropped lounge pants are so comfy and super soft sweatpant material. I’ve been living in these and you will too. I love that the comfort of these pants could be styled and chic also. Shop the look HERE

Summer linen is a perfect Summer fabric. Nothing say’s Summer like a cute pair of linen shorts. These $13.50 shorts were such a great deal you guys bought them up. They came in several colors, and at these prices, you can grab a couple of pairs. I sure did:) Pair with your favorite tank, denim jacket, and your set. It even looks cute with a concert tee. Shop my look HERE

City Beauty’s Latest Product Launch = Skin-Perfecting Daily Veil is a silky-smooth, broad-spectrum SPF 39 that instantly blurs
imperfections, while supporting firmness, elasticity, and hydration for an entirely more youthful
look. Additionally, this final step product helps protect against the sun’s harmful rays with an innovative blend of all-mineral sunscreen ingredients.
This product is a Summer essential. TRUST ME…. your skin will look amazing. Use code DARCYV for 25% off Shop HERE

My New favorite Beauty tool, and you guys love the tutorial on Instagram View HERE. The Hollywood Browser Dermaplaning kit is a must-have tool for your make up bag and is very affordable. Shop HERE and get 20% off with code DARCYMVANDENBER

MY TOP SELLERS FOR JUNE

Homedecor: Adding a pop of Boho Summer designer pieces to your home. Here I used some high-end designer pieces to decorate for Summer and shared with you the DUPES you could purchase to get the same look at a fraction of the cost. SHOP HERE

Sangria Recipe: I shared this Sangria on my stories, and My DMS were flooded for the recipe. I did say how to make it in the stories and saved to cocktail highlights, but I know a lot of you like a written copy. White Sangria recipe: is a Moscato wine, one bottle of your choice 1/4 jar lemon-lime soda (sprite) 1/4 jar lime La Croix and cup chopped pineapple, cup Strawberries, 1/2 cup blueberries. Add all to a glass pitcher or serving jar… The measurements were based on the jar 1/2 the pitcher was the wine, then 1/4 soda 1/4 sparkling water ( hope that makes sense) I did the same for the Red Sangri, a bottle of sweet red wine, 1/4 soda, 1/4 Sparking water and for the fruit I used one apple chopped, 1 cup of grapes cut up and 1 cup blackberries mixed. The best flavor is to make a day ahead. I hope you guys enjoy it because this #sangriawine is a winner in my book.

Charcuterie Board The Instastory that gave me more DMS then I could handle:) My festive Charcuterie Board that has something for everyone and can feed a large gathering. It’s effortless to put together, and many of you asked for a shopping list. Here is what I used this time:
Grapes
Strawberries
Raspberries
Blackberries
Blueberries
Zucchini bread
Crackers (3) types
Carrots
Cucumbers
Hummus
Verity of cheese
Nuts
Chocolate
Crostini
I like to use little dishes on my board to give hight and keep the fruit from making the crackers soggy. Also great for cheese spreads and Hummus. There are so many ways you can create a great Charcuterie board, really no wrong way to create one. Below are a few of my favorite items to help you create a great board

June Instagram recap: Baked goods June was the first month. We started using Wildgrain bread, pasta, and pastries made fresh than fresh frozen and delivered to your door. Ready for you to bake or cook when you need it. You guys loved my stories and wanted to try the service out for yourself. Some of the best Bread, pasta, and pastries my family has ever had. With this foodie family, that is hard to say. We felt like we were in a bakery in Europe, right in our own home. You won’t be disappointed. Get $10 off with code DARCY_10 Shop

Date-Night. June took us on a much-needed date night out at The Gateway in Salt Lake. We had dinner at Midici’s Neapolitan pizza company than A drive-in Theater experience. If you haven’t been to The Gateway in Salt Lake and live in Utah, you need to make your way down there. The outside dining, beautiful wall art murals, interactive parks, water features, window displays are so pretty and inviting. They have some unique shops and entertainment as well.

I hope you enjoyed my June Instagram Recap, sharing all the things you enjoyed in my stories, top sellers, and items you wanted more info on. I plan to do a recap at the end of every month, as this seems to be something you have been requesting. Please leave a comment below if there is something you would like me to write or share about. Have a Beautiful 4th of July. OX, D’Arcy

Ways to Entertain and Dress Festive for 4th of July

Can you believe the 4th of July is a little over a week away! Seriously Summer just flies by, and I love to soak up every minute of it. This year the 4th is going to look a little different for all of us. Many of the activities we all love and enjoy May be canceled, For instance, parades, festivals, firework displays, and breakfast in the parks. however, this doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate American and this great Country in a little different way. (Did you know Utah is the number 1 most patriotic state?) Family BBQs, Backyard pool parties, or a lake day, little sidewalk fireworks, or even a small neighborhood firework display (if allowed in your city). Family and friends are what makes a Holiday special, So put on that American the great playlist, Plan the grocery shopping list and pull out all the stops on your Home decorating.

Our front porch welcomes & celebrates America, and I hope it gets you excited for what’s beyond the front door. I wanted to share with you a red, white, and blue nautical Bar cart perfect for serving drinks, a festive snack table to keep guests happy and tummies full before dinner, and our Stars and stripe dining table perfect for entertaining a small crowd. I hope they will inspire you to entertain this 4th of July and maybe make some new traditions.

Tip for creating an eclectic and festive tablescape for entertaining is to gather up all the items you have in the colors theme you are using, here, of course, is red, white, and blue. Don’t worry about the patterns. A mix is part of the fun. Place all our items in your workstation, take inventory and see what your missing (plates or glasses, etc.) This act will allow for easier shopping. Another tip would be to collect items that can quickly work for other occasions (think solid colors, patterns not necessarily the Holiday pattern.)

Try to think of other Holidays or events you could use items to decorate with. Say the Red polka dot bowl. The item could be used for Christmas, Valentine’s day, 4th of July, and even a Birthday. Layering is also another tip, layering tablecloths, placemats, ribbon, chargers, etc. Layering adds texture, for instance, if I removed the mesh ribbon from the center of the table below, The centerpiece of the table would look flat and not as interesting. Layering creates texture. Play with the items you’ve collected and remember to group in odd numbers, use dishes as risers to give your display height dimensions, and use some unexpected things. Using denim pockets from old jeans for the silverware holders is unexpected and useful.

My inspiration was all things red, white, and blue, days of Summer from the past. Coke and cherries remind me of hot summer days and add a little nostalgia to the tablescape. I created easy shopping for you below. Some of the items I have used are vintage and some I have been collecting for years. I did find a lot of similar items or pieces that could easily be substituted. Mixing things collected, vintage and new gives it that fun pop. For more Idea’s and products Shop my Amazon shops HERE

Now that we have the entertaining covered, let’s talk dressing festively. You could use the same concept I used for entertaining/ creating a tablescape, Collect all the Red white and blue clothing items and accessories, and create your outfits from the pieces you collected from your closet. You’d be surprised how many festive outfits you could put together from what you already own. Below you will find I created five 4th of July outfits from pieces I have owned for years. White Jeans HERE a Summer staple and my RED Tory Burch Miller sandals HERE are pieces I wear all supper long. Pair them with a Gingham top below and festive jewelry for that perfect Summer night outfit/BBQ. I added an easy shopping bar below to help you find a piece or two that works for all of the Summer season and perfect for the 4th of July. Shop the outfit HERE

4th of July perfection says the dress below, unfortunately, it sold out. Still, I listed some adorable alternatives below. The straw bag is perfect for the Summer season, and I added this cute designer dupe bow pin to make it perfect for the 4th of July. Shop the look HERE or shop the post below

Easy peezy outfit that says 4th of July without having a flag or saying 4th of July. Pulling red white and blue pieces out of your wardrobe that you wear all summer and pairing them together creates a Holiday look without actually purchasing a 4th of July item. Stripes are one of my favorite things, and I love you can mix a bold stripe and small stripe. Shop the look HERE or shop the page below

Chic and festive pulling basics out to create a Holiday look everyone can wear. Navy blazer, classic white button-up shirt, distressed jeans and could also be worn with Bermuda shorts add festive accessories, and you’re ready to celebrate. Show the look HERE or Shop the page below

The easiest dress to wear and style multiple ways for Summer. Here we’re shooting for 4th of July and celebrating America, so I paired this polka dot maxi dress with a denim jacket, a sun hat, and a patriotic star bandana. Easy and festive. You could also swap out the denim jacket and wear a striped sweater over your shoulders. Swap out the sun hat for a festive headband. Shop the look HERE or Shop the page below

Welcome to our Home. Remember, your entryway tells the story of what your guest should expect when they enter your home. Make it as festive as your tablescape. I’ve been collecting items since owning my Home decor store “Pages of tyme” back in California starting almost 24 years ago. Some of these pillows are a treasure from those days. The lady that hand made them from some of the prettiest fabrics. This flag and rose pillow are hand embroidered. Remember to collect things that bring you joy. They’ll always work in your home when you love them.

I hope your Holiday week brings you joy and your ability to make fun memories, although they may look different this year. Happy fourth of July! OX,D’Arcy

I have three blogger girlfriends that are sharing 4th of July inspiration over on their blogs! Please go check out their post:

Rosemary= Distinctly southern style

Gwen= Gwen Lives Well

Heidi=www.simplyoursociety.com

Michele = Sooo Boca