Easy Entertaining // Fig & Pancetta Crostini

Holy moly. Maureen made the most incredible appetizer and I just have to share. Plus it's super simple and I'm all about that for easy entertaining!

Fig and Pancetta Crostini

Baguette (sliced)

Goat Cheese

Fig Jam

Pancetta

Arugula

Balsamic Glaze

Chop the pancetta into small pieces and saute in a pan on the stove. You want it a little crispy but not too much. Turn on your oven broiler. Place the slices of baguette on a cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Toast for a few minutes in the oven until golden. Spread goat cheese on each slice. Add a dollop of fig jam. Top with pancetta and arugula leaves. Drizzle with balsamic glaze. Devour.

Definitely making this during the holiday season!

xoxo,

Alex

Talent.

"You're doing your own thing. It's singular... All of us posses that ability, but you have to be willing to seek."

I just love talent. When someone has it, whatever it is, it's so moving. I'm not even jealous because I know in a million years I couldn't do that. It's simply pure appreciation. And getting to that point, where you can just simply appreciate talent without feeling jealous or less or inadequate is a good place to be.

Easy Entertaining // Artichoke & Jalapeno Stuffed Mushrooms

This past weekend we hosted our 5th Friendsgiving gathering. It's truly one of my favorite holidays. And now that I'm on my fifth turkey, it keeps getting easier. We cook the bird, everyone brings sides, desserts, and wine, and bing bang you've got yourself a friendsgiving!

While we wait for the feast to be ready, I like to put out a few appetizers to hold people over. I have two requirements for my appetizers. Easy and delicious. These stuffed mushrooms check both boxes!

Two ingredients and you can find both at Costco aka my favorite place to prepare for hosting. They have everything and it's really sooooo easy. Pick up a package of white mushrooms in the chilled produce area. Swing by the dip/salsa/guac aisle and grab a tub of the Artichoke Jalapeno Dip. And you are ready to go!

Artichoke and Jalapeno Stuffed Mushrooms

1 package of white button mushrooms

1 tub of Artichoke Jalapeno Dip

Heat the oven to 350F. Wash the mushrooms and let them dry. Remove the stems. Fill each mushroom with a spoonful of dip. Make sure to push the dip in there. Line a baking sheet with foil, spread the stuffed mushrooms on the pan, and drizzle with olive oil. Bake for 25 minutes or until the dip is golden and the mushrooms are fork tender. They will be hot so be careful to not burn yourself if you can't resist them right out of the oven!

The dip has the perfect amount of kick to it. These stuffed mushrooms are so easy to make, and did I mention they were gluten free?!

And to up the easy entertaining factor, you can make them ahead of time! Just stuff the mushrooms and store in a tupperware in the fridge until ready to bake.

Another easy dip recipe. And one more.

Don't forget to enter my current giveaway by Wednesday night!

xoxo,
Alex

Retail Therapy and a Giveaway!

The giveaway is now closed.

This post is sponsored by Hy-Vee.

Lately, it seems my work/life balance, integration, sanity, or whatever you want to call it, was off. I had a couple events at work, big things coming up with the CGL, and wanting to be super present as a mom and wife at home. So, I was really needing a little pampering. But I usually devote any pampering time to working out an hour or two each weekend.

Recently though, I've been trying to take a few extra minutes while grocery shopping at our local Hy-Vee to stroll the aisles and look at all the pretty packages and pick out something new to cook. A little retail therapy. Looking at pretty things is so relaxing, right? Well, I was really excited when Hy-Vee reached out and asked me to take a look at their new F&F line of clothes.

Wait, Hy-Vee has clothes?! That's exactly right. And they are pretty darn cute! F&F is a British-inspired international fashion label that offers a broad range of affordable fashion for women, men and children. They are expanding to the US with stores located right inside Hy-Vee. 

So my mom, the little man, and I headed out to Hy-Vee to do a little shopping and explore F&F. We grabbed coffee and began our retail therapy!

The F&F line has something for everyone - women, men, and kiddos. Well, I found a great white blouse with black polka dots that is work friendly. I'm still sticking to a capsule wardrobe of mostly black, grey, navy, and garnet. This piece is another great option for winter!

I started our shopping thinking I'd pick up a few pieces I could use for work, but I completely overestimated my willpower against adorable children's clothes. 

Declan has been growing like a weed lately and is in desperate need of new clothes. Luckily, Hy-Vee has super cute clothes for kiddos.

The pocket square!

I fell in love with this dinosaur hoodie. What is it about dinosaurs for little ones?! I just can't get enough. Declan loves the hoodie and matching pants, too.

Too much. Also, I'm pretty sure every photo I try to take of this moving monster will be blurry from here on out.

I also snagged a few pairs of sweatpants, a pair of khaki pants with - wait for it - SUSPENDERS, and the cutest sweater that I'm hoping he won't grow out of before his birthday in March. 

The line F&F line definitely has a little bit of a European flair which makes sense since that's where the line originated. The styles are fresh and on trend.

You guys really have to check it out. And to entice you a little more, we're doing a GIVEAWAYSimply comment below with something you are looking forward to this week to enter to win a $100 gift card to Hy-Vee. Winner* will be announced Thursday morning.

Have a great week!

xoxo,

Alex

*Winner must live close to a HyVee and redeem gift card at HyVee locations.