Friday Things | April 26, 2013

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Time for an installment of Friday Things:

1. I’m going to The Big Potluck this weekend and can’t wait.

75 bloggers will be in attendance, and we have a packed lineup of events, speakers, and of course, eating and socializing.

Ree Drummond and Matt Armendariz

This day that I spent with Matt was a life-changing one and can’t wait to see him. And Ree. And 75 people who I either know and can’t wait to see again, or know virtually and will finally get to meet.

It’s in Southern California’s wine country, about an hour away from San Diego. I love the Temecula area and have plenty of fond pre-child impromptu winery tasting expeditions with my husband. An hour away, but world’s apart, and a perfect setting for a big ole potluck.

Pic collage of Temecula home

2. Freaker Vanilla Ice-Ing bottle insulator for your water bottle, wine bottle, or anything that gets sweaty. How freaking cute is that print.

Scott and I used to live in Wilmington, NC (13 years ago), where they’re made. Such fun memories.

Vanilla Ice-Ing bottle insulator

3. Ben Affleck joined the Live Below The Line Challenge, bringing awareness to global poverty. Participants are only allowed to spend $1.50 per day for food and drink.

This article gives some tips on what to do, like going to Sam’s Club for free samples.

Live Below The Line Challenge

4. I’m a contributor in the free e-cookbook, Fresh, Fruity, and Fabulous Fruit Recipes: 25 Summer Desserts with Fruit

If you’re in need of some lighter, more summery dessert recipes, check out the free download.

Fresh, Fruity, and Fabulous Fruit Recipes: 25 Summer Desserts with Fruit e-cookbook

They featured my Chocolate Chip and Cherry Blondies, perfect for all those summer cherries or use peaches, nectarines, or whatever is seasonal

Chocolate Chip and Cherry Blondies

5. This enameled cast iron Le Creuset Flower Cocotte, $150. The flower shape is just too cute and the color is so springy and fresh. I love yellow.

Le Creuset Flower Cocotte

6. Loving the Haute Hippie look. The sunglasses, the red sequin jacket ($985) and gold sequin skirt. The beige light that screams dingy retro chic is right up my alley, too.

Haute Hippie pic collage

7. My Vanilla-Avocado Banana Ice Cream was featured in Parade Magazine’s Six Creative, Delicious Ways to Use Avocado

Thanks to Lori the RecipeGirl for including me.

Parade Magazine's Six Creative, Delicious Ways to Use Avocado

8. Cookie Jar with Enamel Flower Market Lid – $54 from MacKenzie-Childs

Cookie Jar with Enamel Flower Market Lid

Tea Kettle, $130

Flower Tea Kettle

Their entire site and store is just a feast for the eyes. I could spend $20,000 in under 20 minutes. I wish I was joking. The store has some seriously gorgeous pieces but I’ll need to win the lottery first.

Mackenzie-Childs store front

9. Tracy’s Cheddar Cheese Bread looks ridiculously good. And easy.

Tracy's Cheddar Cheese Bread

I’m all about easy, 5-minute loaves

Cinnamon-Sugar Crust Cinnamon-Ribbon Bread

Cinnamon-Sugar Crust Cinnamon-Ribbon Bread

10. DIY: Create a Sweet and Savory Dessert Crostini Bar – This sure beats the same chips and dips on the average party table

 DIY: Create a Sweet and Savory Dessert Crostini Bar

One of their suggested toppings is homemade nut butter. I’ve got that covered, and then some.

Honey Roasted Butterscotch White Chocolate Peanut Butter (GF) – My favorite nut butter that I’ve ever made

Honey Roasted Butterscotch White Chocolate Peanut Butter

What are your Friday Things?

If you’ve made anything, done, seen, or bought anything fabulous recently, feel free to link it up in the comments.

Blogger meetups or events you’ve been to? Conferences or events you’ve attended or want to attend?

I’ve been on many, and am really excited that Big Potluck was capped at 75 people so it’ll be more intimate and less herd-like. I’m so excited to see old friends and meet people I’ve wanted to meet for years.

Eating on $1.50 a Day?

I could eat on $1.50 a day, and many days probably come close. Not eating meat is a huge cost savings, and I’m a frugal shopper in general. I buy whatever produce is on sale and buy store-brands of anything I can. With planning, not impulse-buying, shopping from a mental list of things I know I need and not things that I may want but aren’t practical (another expensive condiment for example), I try to shop as frugally as possible.

Even simple things like not eating out, not grabbing coffee out, not buying bottled water when out; planning ahead and doing it all at home slashes monthly expenditures, especially when you’re doing it as a family.

That said, some days I spend a ridiculous amount more when I’m baking all day and go through a pound of butter, sugar, and chocolate. Before noon.

Have a great weekend and check back for two great giveaways!

 

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Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

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Comments

  1. I hope you had an awesome time at the Potluck! I love that Le Creuset cocotte–I totally need that. Their yellow stuff is my favorite too.

    1. Yellow is my fave color for lots of things, especially kitchen stuff. Part of the reason I love your site so much is the cheery yellow :)

  2. So many adorable products here :) love the tea kettle! The live below the line challenge is intriguing, I can’t fathom it.

  3. I hope you had such a wonderful time at the potluck! It looked like a great group of people were there!
    Those MacKenzie Childs items are so gorgeous! And the eating below the line challenge? Wow. That is quite the challenge indeed!

  4. Oh…I was wondering what all the #btp1 hashtags were about! (Sometimes I’m afraid to ask because it’s probably something I should already know.) :D Sounds like fun!!

    Love the Haute Hippie look too – especially those glasses! ♥

  5. Ooh that le creuset flower-pot is soo pretty…I’ve decided to get a Le creuset, but I think that shape might be a little less practical. And that insulator?! So cute! Oh I had such a bless this week, a friend is visiting me, and we had some crazy shopping-tours! And I cooked&baked plenty yummy stuff for her, naked apples and vegan pancakes today for breakfast, the last day :( but we had so much fun!
    I bought a New Diana-mini camera, a backpack, and gray high waisted skinnies! I’m in loove :))

  6. wow, i’m intrigued. vanilla banana avocado ice cream? I gotta check out this recipe. I love healthy ice cream that doesn’t’ taste healthy. Love avocado, just made deviled eggs today with them.

  7. Geez your life sounds exciting right now! Good for you Averie! I can’t wait to hear about the blogger event – sounds awesome!