Sweet and Spicy Black Beans

You can never have enough easy bean recipes and variations of chili. This one is simple and delicious. Even a Microwave Maven who would rather open a can of pre-made chili can handle this one. (by the way, our Microwave Maven aprons are 15% off right now!) Grab your apron, serve these beans with with some brown rice and coleslaw or just a loaf of crusty bread and you are set. Yummy!

Birthday Candles D.I.Y.

Birthday stuff is popping up everywhere! Now that I have my birthday cake picked out it needs to be tricked out properly. I just found this adorable tutorial for making your own long tapered candles, perfect for decking out a chocolate cake with all the trimmings.


(photo Oh Happy Day)

Perfect Birthday Cake

If ever there is a time that one should be allowed to eat cake for breakfast it would be on one's birthday, right? I think I have found my perfect birthday cake. Leave it to my girl crush Joy the Baker to have a chocolate beet cake. With beet cream cheese icing no less. I love beets. Really really love them. They're vibrant, earthy, sweet and rich, what's not to love? Luckily I have decided to celebrate my birthday well into the weekend so there will be plenty of time for someone to bake me this cake. I'll wait....

(photo: Joy the Baker)

Birthday Dress Love

It's my birthday eve! I am looking forward to a weekend of celebrating and frolicking with my nearest and dearest. It only seems appropriate that a birthday girl should be celebrating in a sweet party dress, doesn't it? Perhaps a super girlie frock with galloping horses? This delightful dress from Athropologie should fit the bill nicely.

Procrastination Options

Oh procrastination. The bane of my existence. I have a couple of shows coming up in August that require a bunch of prep and I have other apron related things to attend to, but sometimes it is just easier to avoid everything and putter isn't it? I am amazed at how much time I can lose on the internet. It just so happens that while I was surfing the net, procrastinating, I came across a list of one hundred things to do instead of procrastination on the internet.They all sound delightful. If I am going to continue to procrastinate (and let's face it, sometimes we need days like that) I may as well mix it up a little, should I?