The Best Part of Summer

I went to the OC fair yesterday. If you plan on going or have a fair going on near you, look for the bacon wrapped deep fried churros. They're so bad but so good!

DIY: Upcycled T-Shirt Tote Bag

This is one of the easiest DIYs ever! I grabbed one of my dad's old tank tops (you can also use a t-shirt) and sewed this simple bag in no time. Here's how...

What you'll need:

• a men's t-shirt or tank top (I used an XL for this bag)
• scissors
• needle
• thread

If you're using a t-shirt, start by cutting the collar and the sleeves off. Cut a few strips of fabric off of the bottom to make your rose. Flip it inside out and sew the bottom shut.

To make the flower, use the strips you cut off of the bottom of the shirt and make some ruffles. I used this technique.

Form a flower using the ruffle and sew it until it's secure. It can be messy.

Turn the bag right side in and sew the flower on. That's it!

A special thanks to Lauren at A Wild Tonic for the idea!

Let's Talk Podcasts

I've talked about my favorite podcasts here on the blog before but I've started listening to them quite a bit again so I thought I'd do a little refresher post. These are currently my 4 favorites...

Comedy Bang Bang - I've been listening to this one for a while now and I actually don't think I've ever seen the TV show but I've been meaning to check it out. Anyway, this one is jam packed with hilarious recurring guests including my personal favorite, Nick Kroll.

Sklarbro Country - The Sklar brothers love to talk sports but you don't have to be a sports enthusiast to enjoy this show. I'm not saying they make me want to sit down and watch an entire football game (boring). I'm just saying that they crack so many jokes you hardly notice the sports talk.

WTF - I really like Marc Maron. He has a lot of interesting guests. I also definitely recommend his Netflix special, Thinky Pain. In fact, if you've never listened to the podcast, that Netflix special is a great little preview.

Kevin and Bean - I'm partial to Kevin and Bean because I've grown up listening to them on a local radio station but this is definitely my all time favorite podcast. They update it daily and I never miss it.

4th of July Roundup

Are you ready for the 4th? If not, here are a few recipes and DIYs to get you in the mood...

Cupcake Bunting - Learn how to decorate your desserts with this simple DIY.

County Fair Chili - I'm busting out my award winning chili recipe this year for two different potlucks. I can't wait to do a lot of taste testing while I cook. Get the recipe here.

Drink Umbrellas - These umbrellas are incredibly easy to make. Some red, white, and blue scrap paper, popsicle sticks, a little glue and you're all set!

Peach Cobbler - What's more summery than a peach cobbler? This is my all time favorite recipe.

Flag Shorts - My most recent DIY... I'll be wearing these on Friday!

Hush Puppies - Last but not least, every bbq needs some good ol' fashioned hush puppies. Get the recipe here.