Born in the USA!

It's time to bring out your patriotic paraphernalia to celebrate our Independence Day. The 4th of July is right around the corner so we want to share our list of Red, White & Blue must haves. Whether you're on vacation, at a barbecue or enjoying fireworks with friends we've got y'all covered!

 

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Summer Fruit Salad

A good friend of mine recently shared this recipe with me & I have to admit that at first I was skeptical of adding basil to a fruit salad but I was so wrong! This is by far the best fruit salad that I have eaten in a long time so I want to share it with y'all. Enjoy!

You can use whatever kind of fruit you like. I used bananas, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and raspberries. The amount of honey & basil you need all depends on how much fruit you use. For the amount shown above I used 3 tablespoons of honey and about 12 basil leaves. I also added a little lime juice to keep the bananas from turning brown. Rinse and slice all of the fruit then add to a bowl. Add your lime juice (if needed), honey and basil then mix everything together and voilà! You're done.

 

 

Spaghetti Pie

Do you steer clear of spaghetti at your house because of kiddos or the fear of staining those summer whites your wearing? Well we have found an awesome alternative that your whole family will love...Spaghetti Pie! Try out the recipe and let us know what you think!

                                                                   
                                                                    Ingredients: 

 

                                        1 lb of spaghetti noodles, cooked and cooled

                                        4 eggs

                                        1/2 C Parmesan cheese, shredded

                                        1/2 C Swiss cheese, shredded

                                        4 slices of American cheese or 1/2 C shredded 

                                        Cheddar cheese, your choice                   
                                        (both if you are feeling extra cheesy)
                                        Salt and pepper 

                                        2 tablespoons of olive oil

 

                                                                    To Make:

 

Mix the cooled spaghetti, Parmesan and Swiss cheeses, and eggs together in a large bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. In a large-nonstick sauté pan put 1 tablespoon of olive oil and heat to medium heat. Once hot, add a handful of the spaghetti mixture to the pan and flatten it out to the edges. Lay the American/cheddar cheese on top and add another layer of the spaghetti mixture. Cook for about 5 minutes and flip*, cooking for another 5 minutes on the other side until golden brown. (*To flip with ease get out a large plate, smear 1 tablespoon of oil on it and place it on top of sauté pan. Wearing protective gear, flip the sauté pan and then slide the pie off the plate back into the pan.) 
Once the pie is crispy to your liking, pour it out onto a cutting board, slice as you would a pizza and serve. We like to add a little pizza sauce to the top, but that is optional :) Enjoy! 

 

 

 

 

Anchors, Cutoffs & Color

 

Top: "Anchor's Away Tank" $25 Hardt Boutique

Shorts: DIY cutoffs, Similar

Shoes: Target

 

 

Weekly Wishlist

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Inspired by:

 

 

DIY Dresser Makeover

Do you have old bedroom furniture that you are ready to redo? Check out my recent make over and let me know what you think!

Steps to paint, stain & decorate furniture:

Step 1: Sand everything down really well, the better you sand the better the paint stays. After, use a damp towel and wipe the furniture down to remove any excess dust.
Step 2: With the paint of your choice (I like the paint and primer in one), paint the everything BUT the top of the furniture. Usually you will need to do 2 or 3 coats, but that all depends on what look you are going for.
Step 3: With an old t-shirt, gently apply the stain to the top piece. We found that a t-shirt or even a small rolling brush works great. Again, apply 2 or 3 coats, allowing each coat to completely dry in between applications.
Step 4: Now for the fun part! When everything is dry, decorate the drawers with your own style! With this piece I decided to use burlap and tacks. We laid the burlap over each drawer and free hand cut each piece to make it unique! We then nailed the bronze tacks to hold the burlap in place. **When nailing the tacks, always use a piece of cloth in between the nail and tack so that you do not dent or destroy the tack.
Step 5: Add your own touch to the top of your NEW dresser and make it your own!

Inspiration by:

"Live, Love, DIY" blog

Supplies and Decor:

Hobby Lobby

 

Lake Livin'

Last weekend, Ashlyn & I had dinner at The Blue Parrot which is one of our favorite restaurants on Lake Norman. They have great food, an awesome staff, a relaxing atmosphere & an amazing view of the lake. If you're in or are ever passing through the area we highly recommend stopping in for lunch or dinner here!

 

 

Outfit Details

Top: Volcom, Similar

Skirt: Similar

Bangle: TJ Maxx, Similar

 

 

Summer Fashion Show

Yesterday, Ashlyn & I attended a fashion show hosted by Vestique that featured their newest summer arrivals. The store stayed open after the show so that everyone could shop the runway looks! This boutique has a huge selection of beautiful clothes at great prices. Stop by and check them out if you are in the Charlotte area. They also have two more locations in Raleigh, NC & Greenville, SC.

Outfit Details

Dress: Olive & Oak

Heels: TJ Maxx, Similar

Bangles: TJ Maxx, Similar

 

 Outfit Details

Dress: Lavendar Boutique, Similar

Necklace: TJ Maxx, Similar

Bracelet: TJ Maxx, Similar

  

 

 

SUP: Stand Up Paddleboards

 

After moving onto Lake Norman, we were looking for a summer hobby that could get us on the lake and didn't cost as much as a boat! After pondering and Internet searching, we quickly came upon paddle boarding. Like ourselves, many of you probably are saying, "NO way! Those things are crazy expensive!" Well let me let you in on a little secret...Vagabond Board Company. Check these guys out at 1249 River Hwy across from Cambria Cars. Jesse and Nate have the BEST prices in town and along with boards they have tons of cool gear to make you look extra SUPer! Vagabond even offers lessons and board rentals. And if you didn't think they could do anymore... the boys at Vagabond also sponsor an organization called The Lost Children of Peru that provides the basic necessities for orphans in Peru, HOW COOL? A portion of your purchase goes directly to this organization!
We have had a blast on our boards and they are great for guest entertainment as well! Make sure you tell Jesse and Nate that AEWeekly sent ya! ;)

 

 

Currently Craving

 

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Floral Romper

I had a lunch/shopping date with Ashlyn over the weekend & I wore this floral romper that I am in love with! Rompers are perfect for any occasion during the summer whether you are shopping, attending a bridal shower, lunch date or a day at the beach. Dress it up with heels, layered necklace & a clutch or dress it down with flats, a crossbody bag & bangles.

 

Outfit Details

Romper: L Squared

Shoes: TJ Maxx, Similar

Watch: Michael Kors

 

 

Catwalk for a Cause

May 15, 2013 marked the 4th annual Catwalk for a Cause presented by Lavendar, Avalilly's & Fresh Boutiques. This isn't your typical fashion show. While the runway show features clothing from all three boutiques a portion of the show is devoted to young people with cancer who are being treated at Levine Children's Hospital. Proceeds from the evening go to a fund set up by the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation to help families with children who are being treated at the hospital.

The runway decor was stunning!

 

Ashlyn posing for a picture with Soleil!

(one of the stars of the show)

 

E's outfit details

Dress: Gypsy 05, Same (different print)

Shoes: Aldo, Similar

Clutch: Nine West, Similar 

 

A's outfit details

Dress: Julie's, Similar

Clutch: Francesca's, Similar

Necklace: Julie's, Similar

 

Enjoying the show!

 

We won one of the "Fishing for Fashion" raffles!

Our bag included 3 pair of skinny jeans & 2 tops!

 

At the end of the night Martin & Sherry presented a

check for $60,000 to the Levine Children's Hospital!

 

Catwalk for a Cause is without a doubt the event to attend if you live in the greater Charlotte area. It was an incredible night that supports an amazing cause & we are already looking forward to attending this event next year!

 

 

Healthy Grilling

Now that summer's here, it's the perfect time to start thinking about cooking outside. One of my favorite things about summer is grilling out on the back porch. Whether we're grilling for two or a crowd it's always fun to enjoy the fresh air and sip on a summer cocktail while the food is cooking! I don't know about y'all but one of my favorite things to eat is a good, juicy hamburger straight off the grill. Keeping in mind that it is summer (and bikini season) I knew I needed to create a recipe that will keep my curves in check! So below you'll find our lean beef burger recipe that is packed with flavor and only has 1/4 of the calories.

Ingredients:

2 lbs lean ground beef
3/4 Cup of bread crumbs
1 egg
1/4 Cup of each pepper, diced
(red, green, and yellow bell peppers)
1/4 Cup of diced onion
1/2 Cup finely chopped spinach
3 or 4 fresh basil leaves finely chopped
1/2 Cup shredded mozz cheese
2 Tbls of Worcestershire sauce
Salt & Pepper


Mold into patties and grill these delicious burgers right up! To cut even more calories swap out the regular bun for a whole wheat light English muffin (or just skip the carbs all together). We also swapped out lettuce for spinach and only used light mustard & ketchup. Remember to keep your side dishes healthy as well! Instead of eating a 1/2 pound of french fries or onion rings try grilling some veggies marinated in a little olive oil and salt & pepper, or cut a tomato and drizzle with olive oil & balsamic glaze or even a homemade pasta salad with light Italian dressing. You could always follow our lead and make all three ;)



 

If you don't eat red meat then try grilling some of your favorite fish! We have tried this Mahi Mahi recipe & it is amazing! While you're there be sure to check out some of the other recipes if Mahi Mahi isn't your favorite.

*Hint: For grilling veggies use this Grilling Basket from Target! It works like a charm!

And there you have it. Simple, healthy & delicious!

 

xxxx, A