not a trophy wife

Northwest Grown Sweet Cherries | How to Pit Cherries without a Cherry Pitter

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Hi, Everyone! Today I am talking about Northwest Grown Sweet cherries. My family loves cherries this time of year when the temperatures soar. Cherries are the perfect combination of tart and sweet. And, lucky for us cherries are at their peak during the summer months.

So I was psyched when I was approached to create a post using Northwest-Grown Sweet Cherries. This is the season for cherries from the Pacific Northwest. This past winter the Pacific Northwest had one of the coldest winters in decades. It pushed back the start of the cherry season, but now growers in the Northwest anticipate fresh cherries through the summer. Yes, please!

fresh cherries

 

 

 

 

How cute is the cherry print packing tape on the outside of the cardboard box? This box revealed bags of fresh Northwest Grown cherries.

I checked out a few cherry related recipes in anticipation of this orchard to table delivery. But, now the pressure was on me to create something fresh and not from a can. Game on!

Until this summer I never knew there were tools to remove the pits. I won’t get into the details, but my family either ate around the pit or creatively disposed of them.

I needed a quick solution to get started on the pit project.

 other methods failed to remove the pits

A quick online search, on how to remove the pits, pulled up suggestions to use a straw or an icing tip. The straw was too bendy and could not come close to piercing the cherry and taking the pit with it. Not even close. Maybe a stainless steel straw I see online.

A second popular suggestion was to use an icing tip. I had plenty of icing tips to choose from, but they were too short to get a grasp of the icing tip and the cherry.  Fail!

 

Just as I planned to go on the hunt for a cherry pitter, I took a second to check my utensil drawer for looking for a stand-in for the pitter.  And, I found the solution with an olive oil stopper/pourer. You know the ones you save …. just in case you need a spare oil stopper/pourer? Well, that little extra olive oil pourer got the job done as a cherry pitter.

The stainless steel end was perfect to pierce the cherry and the size of it consistently pierced through the cherry and pushed the seed out. The length of the olive oil pourer, with the threaded end on the opposite end, made it easier to hold the cherry in one hand while gripping the cherry pitter substitute.

oil stopper/pourer worked best to pit cherries

After four pounds of cherries, it looked like a crime scene on my kitchen counter. I shared this photo on Instagram.

Video |

Suggestions

prep area before you pit the cherries

  • large area to work
  •  large bowl for the pitted cherries
  •  bowl for the cherry pits
  • dark color cloth/rag to wipe surface – it gets very messy
  • old clothes

The pit removal process was more labor intensive than I anticipated. I removed the stem and followed by the cherry pit removal. It was a little cumbersome. Next time I will remove all the stems first and then power through the pit removal.

Sidenote: I recommend catching up on your recorded shows. I caught up with a week’s worth of  Hoda and Kathie Lee on the Today Show.

Stay tuned for my first fresh cherry pie recipe I made using fresh Northwest grown cherries. For cherry recipes and nutritional details on cherries please visit Northwest Cherries.

 

**disclosure: I received Northwest Cherries for this post. All opinions are my own. Information and facts provided by the Northwest Cherries & Washington State Fruit Commission. 

 

Linking to : Blue Sky Kitchen

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How to Create the Look of More Flowers for Less Money

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Hi everyone! How was your weekend? We did a lot of work in the yard. My husband tackled the garage and I spruced up the flowers in the backyard.

 I admit our flowers had largely been ignored since Father’s Day weekend when my husband generously offered to pick up some potted flowers to freshen up our patio.

Some of you already know where this is going. My husband hauled 3 containers of flowers and set them as close to the sprinklers in the backyard to “get watered.” Colorado has summer outdoor water restrictions so I appreciated his efforts to conserve water.

Except the containers were heavy with a variety of flowers packed into a rectangular shaped plastic container. Moving the containers onto the patio (and off the grass) was a full body workout. #lovethisman #goodintentions

And, then I got an idea… the one that turned into an afternoon with more soil on me than on the patio.

How to Create the Look of More Flowers

I started with one of the flower packed plastic containers and dug right. With a bag of soil on hand and miscellaneous pots and containers, I got to work. If my family had seen me tearing up perfectly pretty planters they would have thought I lost my mind. Or, working on a blog post. Ha!

This was one of those decisions that turned out better than expected. Take a look at the results of the divide and conquer more flowers solution.

A little afternoon sun behind me captured the reflection of the woods behind our house.

 

Remember when I mentioned my husband purchased 3 containers of flowers. Well, I created all of the above flower pots with just one of those plastic containers.

I shared how I spruced up our window well grates earlier this season.

Additional Ways to Create the Look of More Flowers

I accidentally discovered an additional way to create the look of more flowers. When I reviewed my photos I noticed that the potted herbs added more bulk and color to the patio and surrounding flower pots.

herbs

I made a few of these herb containers for a Summer Challenge and now I love they add a little something, something when placed next to smaller flower pots.

boxwood

Thanks for stopping by! What do you do to create the look of more flowers in your yard or gardens? Besides buying more flowers. wink, wink!

 

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Getting Fresh (Produce) in the Kitchen

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Hi Everyone! Woke up to news of a fire in one of our favorite mountain resorts (Breckenridge). We need rain! We also need rain for our summer crops on the western slope and northern farmers. In Colorado, Summer means an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. And, there is a Farmer’s Market in cities and neighborhoods around Denver this time of year. There is something special about fresh produce in the kitchen.

Fresh produce becomes a part of the kitchen decor, menu, and lifestyle.

fresh-produce

I used to buy the pre-seasoned veggies in the deli when I made fajitas or tacos. I think this crop of fresh peppers and onions changed my life. Look at pretty the colors in these peppers and onions. No filters needed on fresh veggies.

My younger son loves these mini peppers! They are great for lunches and a late afternoon snack. They are sweet and easy to add to just about any recipe.

fresh-produce

Everything, even a bland salad, gets perkier with fresh produce. Oh, and olives… anyone else discovered the HUGE variety of olives in the market? Fresh veggies are an easy way to bulk up the mandatory dinner salad.

fresh-produce

fresh-produce

strawberries

And fresh produce has been known to end up in my favorite beverages (this one is water)! Promise!

What’s your favorite produce during the summer? Any suggestions for winter?

fresh-produce

 

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Very Last Minute 4th of July Dessert | Rolos & Berries

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Happy 4th of July! We were in Vail for the days leading up to the 4th! Tuesday is a tricky day for a holiday weekend! We had a blast in Vail (Lionshead). I shared a few photos on Instagram over the weekend.

last minute 4th of July dessert

This last minute dessert has to be the easiest one out there. No oven, no recipe or directions to follow. It’s one of the few recipes even I can’t screw up.  Just grab a bag of Rolos in the candy aisle and  a couple containers of raspberries and blueberries. That’s it! Just a bag of Rolos and assorted berries for this recipe.

I told you it was a very last minute 4th of July dessert. This is a dessert that you can grab at the local grocery store near the beach, lake or mountains.

Ingredients | Rolos and Berries

rolos-and-berries

The only thing that slows this recipe down is the time it takes to unwrap the Rolos. For the 4th of July holiday, I line the Rolos in a rectangle. And, then add the blueberries in the corner. Creative, right? This recipe is pretty much fail-proof and doesn’t keep anyone in the kitchen. I have been known to prep this dessert in the car outside the hosts’ house.

Hope you have a safe and fun filled 4th of July holiday!

rolos-and-berries

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a run with a view of Colorado

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Hi everyone! What happened to June? I have a son leaving for college the end of August so this is freaking me out! Which brings me back to how I de-stress. I run, break a sweat or eat chocolate. One of these things is not like the others…

This is the hill that leads out of our neighborhood. It’s steep and it’s a bear (and yes might see a mama bear and her cubs. It’s the hill when you see a neighbor chugging up the hill you roll down your window and yell a few encouraging words. But look at that sky! Colorado has over 300 days of sunshine a year!

a run with a view

The trouble with hills was over time my hamstrings and core said, “no more.” It’s been a rough year and a half figuring out the injury (need to treat the source, not the symptom). Blah blah blah. I do more physical therapy now than in the previous 20 years.

So my “team” suggested mixing up my runs with dirt (and tracks). I fought this for awhile because certain types of critters also like the dirt and the sunshine. And, I will do more harm to ankles, shins, knees and if I as much as see one of these or any variety.

Colorado Living

On a particularly warm morning, I decided to try my knee (hamstring) on the dirt roads. I found a few snapshots of Colorado living along the way.  5280 is a reference to the mile above sea level. In our part of the city, we are above 5280. Because this is all I know, I have never noticed it.

5280  runs

Along with this route, there are usually buffalo roaming in the distance behind the fence. This is a 2 lane dirt road and although most drivers give a friendly wave to acknowledge the runners; it’s not a guarantee. It gets a little precarious around the bends and turns.

Some of you may have seen this on my Instagram feed over the weekend. This greeted me when I finished my run. It puts all of the struggles, pains, complaints in perspective. Have you been to Colorado?

 

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American Flag Jar Luminaries | Guest Post from Our Life in a Click

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Hi Everyone! As many of you heard I experienced this event a few weeks ago. I asked a few blogger friends to guest post to give me time to get my content back on track. Heather from Our Life in a Click was the first to jump on board as a guest contributor.  I am still looking for guest posts so please email me if interested.  Heather shared a fun American Flag Jar Luminaries. What I love about these luminaries is Heather created a way to up-cycle the cute, tiny American flags we purchase for parties and patriotic decor.

Wouldn’t it be cool to see these American Flag Jar Luminaries pop on on porches and patios?! Enjoy her tutorial!

 I miss crafting but I don’t want to make something unless it’s useful and practical for my life. These flag luminaries are an easy upcycle craft that only take a few household items to put together and I plan on using them all summer.  This weekend marks the unofficial start of summer and time for me to pull out my patriotic decor.  These are going to fit right in!

 Supplies

 Jars-Pickle jars work well but I didn’t have enough empty jars so I picked up a few at the thrift store for less than a dollar.
Flags-I found a 4 pack at Walmart
Mod Podge
Foam brush
Twine (optional)
Tea Lights

Gently remove the flags from the sticks they are attached to. If you pull firmly but gently you can usually pull the staple out. I used a staple remover on the peskier ones.  You need to be careful not to rip the fabric.

Apply Mod Podge to the jar and affix the flag to the jar.

Cover flag and entire jar with Mod Podge.

I did three coats on each jar, letting them dry in between.

Add some twine around the top of the jars to up the rustic look. I added these large tea light from Ikea that burn for 9 hours.

Pretty glow!

These luminaries looked sweet up on the mantle.

And, these patriotic flag jar luminaries lit up the steps on the deck.

These patriotic luminaries will be perfect for all of the summer holidays.

Such an easy and fun craft, cheap too!

 

Let’s keep in touch!

  photo pinterest-2_zps1a6f4965.png  photo instagram-2_zpse2ae75b5.png  photo facebook-2_zps1d5be0d6.png  photo twitter-1_zps27e694f2.png

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Branches & Boxwood Centerpiece

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Last year, while running errands in the city (Denver), I parked in front of a tree trimmer (arborist) and his crew. I asked about the pile of branches stacked on the curb. These guys were more than happy to load the branches into my car. At this point, I had no idea these tree branches would evolve into a branches and boxwood centerpiece.

First, I had to ignore my family’s fake enthusiasm when they saw the branches next to the garage. I made the decision to slice the branches. I still didn’t have a plan, but at least the branches were no longer stacked like firewood (with their leaves intact) on the side of the house. #goals

branches |

branches-boxwood-centerpiece

My options to up-cycle the branches increased when I sliced them down into stackable pieces. I created a wreath with the sliced branches using a cardboard form as the base for the wreath. But the branches wreath looked bland.

branches-boxwood-centerpiece

And I remembered the small boxwood wreaths that were in a holding pattern of their own. I couldn’t figure out what to do with my set of three boxwoods from my favorite online decor site.  I played with a layered look of the boxwood wreath and the sliced branches wreath. I added a candle for what had transformed into a branches and boxwood centerpiece.

branches + boxwood |

branches-boxwood-centerpiece

The fun part of this branches and boxwood centerpiece is how it came together. It was trial and error and mixing it up with different layers and accessories. The candle was just sitting on the counter with no home and it fit perfectly in the center of this piece. See what I just did with the centerpiece?

centerpiece

branches-boxwood-centerpiece

branches & boxwood centerpiece

branches-boxwood-centerpiece

 

 

 

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Crushing on these Containers for Porches & Patios this Summer

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Most of my friends, if not all, create beautiful floral arrangements for the containers. They look like the belong on the set of a Hallmark movie. Like this container I am crushing on from Better Homes & Garden.

Source

I am not that girl who has a gift to plant beautiful arrangements of annuals into over sized containers to greet friends and neighbors. I describe my summer container arrangements as more of a “purchase and drop” technique. #goals

Here’s one of my containers on my front porch. I had to remove the Home Depot price tag and retake this photo of our Australian Shepherd, Tanner, chilling in the shade.

Container Crushes |

Here’s a few containers that caught my attention for the summer. #goals  Please share your favorites in the comments. I love the metal containers and the placement on the edge of the porch. It’s a nice way to define the porch or patio.

Source

I love this rusted planter hanging from a tree branch. This would be fun to place near the front porch or back patio. It could easily be adapted to hang from the eaves of a covered porch or patio. This one is a favorite for me!

Source: April 2016 : Alison Miksch – Photogapher / Buffy Hargett Miller – Prop Stylist

I like this group of containers near the gate. I never would have thought to add flowers on one side of the gate. But, it makes total sense since the gate is the entrance to the back yard.

Source

Here’s another favorite container idea for summer porches. This wash tub container looks amazing on what I imagine to be a southern porch.

I don’t know if I could pull off using a wash tub for a container of flowers on my front porch. I think the neighbors might call the HOA police. Or, maybe they would just call my husband or text my kids to make sure I am alright.

April 2016 : Alison Miksch – Photogapher / Buffy Hargett Miller – Prop Stylist

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