Citrus and Cream: August 2013

Saturday Snapshot {August 31}

August has come to a close, and what a month it's been! It was filled with excitement (Citrus and Cream turned four weeks old!), love, and...peaches! Our perfectly peachy round-up of recipes was featured on Thursday, plus all kinds of other goodies throughout the week. Here's the recap, in case you missed anything:

Tulare Outlet Center offers way more than shopping! With a little planning, you can make a whole evening out of it and keep everyone in the family happy, happy, happy.
Anchor & Vine is a local artist we've fallen in love with! If you have not yet checked out the shop, you must. And don't forget to enter the giveaway!
Napkins 3 Ways Tutorial: Dying fabric isn't as hard as it seems! Turn plain white napkins into something exciting.
Visalia Planing Mill {Artisan Pizzeria} does not disappoint. You need to try it. Today. For lunch. (See you there!)
Peach Pinterest Roundup! So many great recipes...so little time left!
We've shared our August Faves: shoes, music, make-up, drinks...check them out!

We also way to give a big THANK YOU to our featured artists and artisans this month: Buttons & Birds {Children's/Women's Items and Accessories), Anchor & Vine {canvas, wood, prints}, and Leslea Designs {pre-made/custom graphic design}! Please support our local talent!

And now, it's Labor Day weekend! Check out the local events by clicking on the tab on the right. And let us know how you'll be enjoying this three-day weekend!

Our Favorites: August Edition

STEPHANIE'S FAVES
1. Hart of Dixie - When looking for something to watch on Netflix I came across the first season of Hart of Dixie. I had seen one episode while clicking through the channel so I decided to give it a go. I really enjoyed it! I thought it was cute, funny, and transported me to Bluebell, Alabama! It reminded me a bit of Gilmore Girls.
2. Heart Sandwich Cutter - I have been trying to find ways to get my two-year-old to eat better. When looking for some printables I came across the blog of a woman who makes art out of her kid's lunch every day. It is so stinking cute! So I went and found a list of her favorite Bento items and decided to try a few out. Since then, my little one has been eating better––she loves seeing what fun shapes I am going to make out of her lunch. This particular cutter not only cuts but seals the edges as well.
3. A&W Root Beer Freezes - If you follow us on Facebook you might know my weakness for these! We have a new A&W close to us, and it is just WAY to tempting to go get one every. single. night!
4. Naked Palette by Urban Decay - Candace gave me this for my birthday and I love it! I had never had it before, but I love the colors and the fact that it lasts all day. It's really a beautiful palette for any eye color.
5. Brooke Fraser - She just seems to be my go-to on my phone lately when wanting to listen to something fun and upbeat!

CANDACE'S FAVES
1. Too Sweet Heart Necklace by make pie not war - My husband gave me this necklace in May, and I don't think I've gone a day without wearing it! I'm a huge fan of mpnw and her beautiful handcrafted pieces, and it's a plus that she's local!
2. Organix Weightless Healing Oil - This serum leaves my hair soft and shiny without any extra grease! Perfect for those end-of-summer strands that need a bit of attention.
3. MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Peach Blossom - Love this color! It creates a perfect nude lip with just a touch of pink. And peach blossom just happens to be a nod to all of our peach loves this month!
4. All Sons & Daughters - Their music is beautiful, interesting, and inspiring. I can listen to them all day every day.
5. Fresh Orange Mint - I began growing this in the spring, and it has been a favorite addition to drinks and desserts month. This particular mint is warm and citrusy - give it a try!

National Peach Month: Pinterest Recipe Round-up!

August is coming to a close and with that ends National Peach Month. Don't worry––we will have another round-up of recipes next month, but for now let's focus one last time on that delicious peach!

What I've learned is that you can have peaches for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, drinks and snacks––and believe me, I have done just that this month! I haven't tried everything, though. I would still LOVE to make these Peach Caramels, and I am sure my little ones would love these Peach Yogurt Bars. I will have to round up a couple more peaches to see if we can enjoy a few more recipes this month.

And here are some fun facts!

Peaches are virtually fat free. A medium size peach contains less than one gram of fat.
Peaches are naturally sodium free.
Peaches have no cholesterol.
Peaches are a good source of vitamins A, B and C.
Peaches are considered a good source of fiber. The skin of a peach provides both roughage and fiber.
A medium peach contains only 37 calories.

Biggest peach cobbler: "The world’s largest peach cobbler" is made every year in Georgia. That cobbler measures 11 feet by 5 feet.

The World’s Largest Peach is located in Gaffney, South Carolina, and weighs over 10,000 pounds. The city of Gaffney, near Greenville, built this water tower in the shape of a peach back in 1981.

More than 80 chemical compounds contribute to the peach aroma- maybe that's why it's so GREAT!

A peach pit contains hydrocyanic acid, which is a poisonous substance. Try not to swallow it accidentally!

Visit our Pinterest Peachy Board to see all of our favorite peach pins. And tell us: Have you been enjoying the fresh peaches this month!?

photo Steph-Sig_zpsa0b0c879.png

Local Highlight {Eat}: The Planing Mill Artisan Pizzeria

The Planing Mill is a new artisan pizzeria in town that does not disappoint! It is so-named for its historic location, as its building is part of the original Visalia Planing Mill established in 1851. The beautiful brick creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, and of course the smell of fresh-baked pizza doesn't hurt, either!

The pizzeria offers an array of creative pies, as well as many other menu items, such as appetizers, sandwiches, calzones, and salads. We recently had the Kitchen Sink pizza, which was generously topped with cheese, meats, and fresh veggies. It was delicious, and the 12-inch was big enough for two to share and then some.

Check out this great new pizzeria, and share what menu items you've tried!

514 E. Main Street, Suite A

(Find the entrance on Center Street.)

Visalia, CA

Monday through Saturday

11:00 am - 9:00 pm

www.planingmillpizza.com

www.facebook.com/PlaningMillPizzeria

DIY Dyed Napkins: 3 Fun Twists on the Table Staple

This past year, I've gotten a little crazy with dyeing fabric. Part of the reason is the amazing gift of a huge bolt of white fabric...every crafters dream! As much as I'm a fan of the crisp clean nature of an all-white design, though, sometimes we need a little color!

A few of my colorful projects!

In comes Rit dye. Rit is a colored powder or liquid that turns water into a dyeing machine. I like working with the powder formula, which runs only a few dollars at our local craft store. There are many different techniques, but for most small projects, a bucket of hot water works just fine.

Napkins are an easy first job. You can usually track down plain white fabric napkins, and in a couple of simple steps, you can turn that traditional table staple into something modern and chic!

Materials and Supplies

White napkins (or any white or light fabric), washed
Rit powdered dye in Golden Yellow (To achieve a coral color, use 1 part Fuchsia to 1/2 part Golden Yellow; to achieve turquoise, use 1 part Teal to 1/4 part Golden Yellow)
Large plastic bucket for mixing the hot water and dye
1 cup salt
Squirt of liquid detergent
Metal spoon
Rubber gloves
Tarp or whatever you use to do painting/crafts (optional)

General Instructions

Set up your dyeing area. If it is a big project, set it up outside, but for a little project like napkins, the kitchen sink works fine. (Just do a spot check with the dye first! Mine rinsed out completely with a little Barkeeper's Friend.)
Bring 4 cups of water to simmering. Add the hot water, 1 cup salt, and powder dye into the bucket. Mix well with the spoon. Be sure and wear your gloves!
Fill the rest of the bucket with hot water and a bit of liquid detergent.
Get your fabric wet, and then get ready to dip! If you have a lot of fabric, you can fold it, although there may be some slight color variation along the creases (which I don't mind).

Option #1: Ombre

Note: If you're dying a large piece using the ombre technique, you may consider wrapping it around a dowel. For smaller projects like these napkins, you can layer the napkins on top of each other and do four at the same time.
Dip the bottom few of inches of the napkin into the dye. Swish it back and forth, in and out of the dye, for 12-15 minutes. (You can also just let it hang over the edge for awhile.) The longer you let it sit, the darker it gets.
Dip more of the fabric in and do the same for less time, around 8 minutes, rolling out the fabric as you need.
Continue dipping the fabric in, layer by layer, until you're close to the top, lessening the amount of time as you go.
For the lightest layer, dip it in for just a second.
Once everything looks good, take out your dyed fabric, then rinse it in cold water, making sure the water runs down to the darkest layer.
Finally, rinse in warm water until the water runs clear, about 10 minutes.
Wash your fabric in warm water with detergent.
Dry your fabric, and you're set!

Option #2: Ombre Effect with Four Napkins

This isn't a true ombre, but you will use four different napkins to create the effect, each napkin being a slightly lighter shade.
Place the first napkin in the dye, swish it around, and let it sit by itself for 8 minutes.
After the eight minutes, add the second napkin and do the same, and let both sit for 4 minutes.
After the four minutes, add the third napkin and do the same, and let all three sit for 3 minutes.
After the three minutes, dip the fourth and last napkin in for only a second.
Take the napkins out and rinse them following the same directions as Option #1.

Option #3: Sunburst/Tie-Dye

Fold each napkin into fourths, then twist one of the closed corners well.
Tie the twists with a couple of rubberbands.
Dunk the napkins in and let soak for 10-15 minutes, depending on how dark you want the color.
Rinse before taking off the rubberbands, then take off the bands and rinse again.
Follow the same directions as Option #1.

Colorful napkins are an easy way to dress up any table! And once you try this project, you'll be wanting to dye everything. (Just keep the kids and pets at a distance, or you may end up with more color than you asked for.)

What do you think? Will you give this a try?
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Local Highlight + Giveaway! Anchor & Vine, Visalia Custom Canvas, Wood & Prints

Anchor & Vine was one of the first Etsy owners we stumbled upon in Visalia. While searching for local artists, her shop came up, and we were immediately drawn to her beautiful art and fun prints! She has something for everyone––whether it's a large statement piece to cover a wall or a few small prints to frame in your little one's room, Anchor & Vine will not disappoint!

Here is a little more behind the artist!

Tell us about yourself.
I'm a children's pastor by day and a graphic designer by night. I love to create beautiful things...in things and people! I have a 23 year old adopted daughter and am getting ready to take my first round of foster kids this fall.

Anchor & Vine offers custom adoption portfolios

What items do you offer?
Anchor & Vine specializes in prints to frame and canvas to hang. We have the highest quality prints and canvas on the market and take pride in offering only the best!

Has your shop changed over the years?
We're only about a year and a half old and still growing and figuring things out.

Why/How did you start?
My brother and I design for the churches we pastor for, and were continually doing projects for friends and others and decided to see if we could build a business out of it...it's been a blast!

Tandem Bike, Dark Grey Wood

What is your inspiration for creativity?
My faith challenges and inspires me to look for beauty and meaning in everything. I lean toward things that express transformation and endurance through struggle...and of course humor...my whole family has a quirky sense of humor so that finds its way into designs all the time!

Do you have a in-store presence anywhere?
We're featured in local shops like Embellish & Restore, and are currently in works to have a couple of designs in major stores.

Do you create custom orders or allow pickups?
Yes, about 40% of our work is custom designs. We do local delivery and pick up.

HOME 8x8 Scrabble Art

What’s playing on your iPod?
The Gospel Wiskey Runners, The Civil Wars, and Mumford & Sons

Connect with Anchor & Vine through Facebook, Instagram, and email: anchorandvine@gmail.com.

Amber has so graciously given us TWO 8x10 prints to give away to you! There are separate entries for each print. Enter one or both-––whichever you'd like.

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Tell us what you love about Anchor & Vine!

Out and About: Family Fun at the Tulare Outlet Center

This last Tuesday I wanted to go to the Farmers Market at the Tulare Outlet Center. We needed to get out of the house and it sounded like a perfect excuse to peruse the outlets as well, so I made a plan. I texted my husband and let him know I would be heading to the outlets around 5pm. He was at the dentist in Tulare already so he met us there. What was kind of a spur of the moment trip to the Farmers Market turned into a fun night as a family!

First, we of course hit the Farmers Market. We walked through and visited with all of the vendors, and ended up buying some peanut brittle and apple butter. My oldest daughter and I both got a sample of chocolate milk from Top O'the Morn Farms which was, and always is, amazing! Since it was hot, we didn't want to spend too much time in the sun, so we decided to move into the stores and do a little shopping.

We hit up a great sale in Banana Republic and my husband got some back to school clothes. We looked until we had cooled off and headed back outside. We were all getting a little hungry and the girls needed to be changed and fed, so we made our way to Bravo Farms for dinner.

This is one of my favorite places to eat! I had a huge salad with asparagus, strawberries, chicken, almonds, fresh veggies and a great strawberry vinaigrette. Hubby had pizza and we all enjoyed some sweet potato fries and cheese curds. Everything was great!

We hit up Osh Gosh and took advantage of some of their back to school sales and clearance items and then went to Gap as our last shop for the evening. When leaving Gap my little one saw the fountains and HAD to go see them. We walked over and enjoyed the cooling weather while she watched the fountains and splashed her hands around. Little sister watched intently!

Source

Finally, we knew Baskin Robbins was having one of their sales that night so we decided to end the evening with ice cream. When we got home we all crashed within minutes- everyone was happy, full and exhausted! We had a great evening!

If you're out at the outlets make an evening of it! There really is a lot to do there, and if you have older kids, you could even throw in a movie. (Bravo Farms sells movie tickets for only $7.50 so buy them while your eating!). Also, stop by M-Fasis or Nike and ask for a coupon booklet, or download it here. When it cools down, spending time outside will be much easier, but the Farmers Market won't be there throughout the winter so make sure you plan accordingly!

Do you spend time at the outlets ever or are you usually there to get in and get out!?

photo Steph-Sig_zpsa0b0c879.png

Saturday Snapshot {August 24}

Chevron was on our minds this week as we embraced this trend and brought it home!

1. We rounded up our five favorite chic chevron tutorials and DIYs on Pinterest.
2. Janelle of Buttons & Birds made our day sparkle with a look at her darling shop. Check out her items on Etsy! (And don't forget to use the coupon code CitrusandCream for free shipping!)
3. A giveaway for a set of three Buttons & Birds burpcloths began...and is still going. Don't miss out! Enter here.
4. A little tape, paint, and burlap turned into a fun chevron table runner.
5. Peach and ginger go together in this refreshing iced tea beverage.
6. We brought the trend full circle and threw a mint- and chevron-themed dinner party! But in the battle between Pinterest and real life, real life won. We managed a few pics and tons of laughs anyway.

And now, we soak in some Saturday! What do you have on the agenda this weekend? Planning on creating anything new or special? We'd love to hear about it!

Pinterest versus Real Life: A Dinner Party Gone Wrong (or Right!)

We've been loving mint lately. We wear it, we eat it, we drink it...we live it. So it seemed like a perfect idea to create a lovely mint and burlap tablescape to go with our chevron table runner. This tablescape idea turned into an all out end-of-the-week party plan.

We spent hours planning and prepping, from chopping veggies to dying fabric to sewing napkins to match. Our menu was glorious: refreshing mojitos, mint and melon salad, light skewers of local veggies and chicken. And for dessert, homemade mint brownie sundaes! (This party sounds amazing, right??? We thought so!)

We envisioned hanging lights, candles, flowers in a picturesque outdoor scene. Something like this:

Okay, in reality, we expected something more like this:

And in actuality, we got this:

Sure, it's not that bad. But come on...did you see that first picture? Because we did. And no amount of mojitos would make our table look like that. As much as we wanted and planned for the Pinterest-perfect picture, life happened! We've had a city-wide power outage, two-year-old tantrums, husbands working late, crazy hot and humid weather, busy days, sleepless nights, and more.

But we didn't give up. We skewered those veggies, muddled those mint leaves, and ended up enjoying a great dinner together inside (with the tantrum-throwing two-year-old), which is what we really needed, anyway.

We even managed to get a few good pictures, even though the flash wasn't working...

And even though the paper straws disintegrated in two minutes...

And even though our too-small plates looked terribly sad and lonely with their single floating skewers...

And even though our "home-made" brownies came from a box mixed with applesauce because there was no vegetable oil and we had to lose the sundae part altogether for the lack of chocolate sauce and then Steph dropped her entire dessert on the carpet (right next to where the baby's diaper had not held up when needed)...

And even though the lens often only captures what we wish we could be...

This is real life, and we made it through dinner laughing all the way, proving that real life is way better than Pinterest.

photo taken at 12:26 am...when we finally finished this blog post!

Happy Friday, friends! Hope you have a wonderful weekend enjoying real life with the people you love!

Candace & Stephanie

Refreshing Ginger Peach Iced Tea

There are few summer drinks that hit the spot quite as well as a tall glass of iced tea. Make it fresh and fun with peach and ginger, and your go-to beverage becomes something extra special.

What You Need:
-4 cups (1 quart) water
-2-3 ripe peaches, pitted and largely diced
-2-3 teaspoons fresh grated ginger (a couple of inches of a ginger root should be enough)
-4 bags of black tea (or green, if you prefer)
-1/4 cup sugar
-Lemon
-Fresh mint and peach slices (to garnish, if desired)

What You Do:
1. Fill a large pot with 1 cup of water, sugar, and your grated ginger. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes.
2. Add another cup of water and peaches. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes. Once peaches start to soften (about 5 minutes into it), use a muddler or wooden spoon to mash them a bit.
3. Add the remaining 2 cups of water. Bring the mixture back up to a boil, then remove from heat and drop in 4 tea bags of choice. Steep for ten minutes or longer, depending on how strong you like your tea.
3. Remove tea bags and allow the mixture to sit for another 10 minutes or so if you can.
4. Fill a pitcher with ice. Strain tea into pitcher. Top with a squeeze of fresh lemon. Stir well.
5. Pour into glasses and garnish with fresh peach slices and mint! Enjoy!
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DIY Chevron Painted Burlap Table Runner

Chevron is one of the easiest patterns to make on your own. It can be as simple as a V with only one chevron or repeating chevrons to make the classic pattern we see everywhere. Either way, straight lines and a little measuring can add character to just about anything. We decided to try our hand at this pattern and create a chevron burlap table runner, which not only turned out really cute, but was actually easy to do––no sewing involved!

Here's what you need:
Burlap
Painters Tape in the width you'd like your pattern
A stiff paint brush or sponge
Paint (Fabric or Acrylic will work)
Iron, chalk for marking, measuring tape

First cut your burlap to the desired size. You don't have to sew burlap if you make sure to cut in a straight line and remove a few threads of the burlap to have a frayed edge. We followed this tutorial here which helps you know exactly where to cut to get your straight line.

When your piece is cut, iron it, and fold it in half to mark the center. Unfold it and place it on something that you don't mind getting paint on––we used a cut up paper bag.

Next, measure for your chevron. You will need to mark in 3 different spots: down the center and on both outer edges. Take your measuring tape and mark every 3 inches (or however far apart you would like each chevron). You are then going to take your tape and connect the top middle mark to the second mark on each side, creating the actual chevron. Continue doing this until you have your pattern completed.

Next paint inside your painters tape. You want to use a stiff brush or sponge so that you can dab the brush and get the paint in all of the little holes. Take a smaller brush and paint your line along the outer edge but not into the frayed part. Let that dry.

Remove your tape and you're done! Easy!

Have you tried to make a chevron pattern with anything? Think you could do this?!

photo Steph-Sig_zpsa0b0c879.png

Local Artisan Highlight + Giveaway: Buttons & Birds {Handmade Baby, Children's and Women's Pieces}

We are excited to introduce to you Janelle of Buttons & Birds who is sharing her darling shop with us today. (And giving away a set of burp cloths too cute to burp on...one of which is––you guessed it––chevron!)

Tell us a bit about yourself and your family.
I am a wife to a smart and handsome man for over 8 years now, and a mother to three little beauties, ages 4, 3 and 1. Three kids in four years is as crazy as it sounds, but I’m immeasurably blessed to stay at home and care for all four of them.

Buttons & Birds is a sweet name. What was the inspiration for it?
The inspiration for the shop name came from my two grandmothers whom I love, one who loved buttons (and taught me a ton about sewing, embroidery and crochet) and one who loves birds (and taught me about loving God’s creation).

I have always loved to create, learning to sew in elementary school, embroider in junior high, and crochet in high school. The thrill of seeing something in a store, being inspired, then creating it for myself led me to start accepting custom orders from friends and family.

I'm learning how I can use my talent to be who God created me to be. For now, selling my handmade creations helps supplement any income I was making outside of the home, all the while allowing me to be an huge part of my kid’s upbringing.

What items do you offer in your shop?
I offer a mix of colorful and unique accessories for women and children in the Etsy shop. Items include: Hair clips, fabric necklaces, headbands, baby blankets, burpcloths, as well as hand-crocheted items in the fall & winter such as neck cowls and beanies. I also love to make custom crib bedding and items for kids bedrooms.

Really, I make new things everyday and love to have the shop filled with unique, handmade items that are made with quality materials. I have realized over the years that high quality materials equals high quality results.

What is your inspiration for your creativity?
My inspiration? God’s creation. I mean seriously, have you watched Planet Earth lately? Those colors? Uh-Maze-Ing. I’m also in love with Swedish design, most anything vintage, mid-century modern style, color, JCrew, and Anthropologie. (Someday I WILL work there…I’ve got to!)

What does your week look like as a shop owner?
My days usually consist of wiping noses, changing diapers, prepping meals, running errands, organizing closets, rocking babies, bandaging wounds, playing dress up, laundry maid, prayer leading, song teaching, and basically being the ring-master of this circus. My favorite time to create is right away in the morning, during nap times and while my family is watching TV at night. I usually have a crochet hook and ball of yarn in my diaper bag.

Where are some goals you have for your shop?
My goal in the next few weeks is to group items together that would make an awesome gift. Perhaps a set of burpcloths paired with a darling hand crocheted beanie for a newborn boy. Or a luxurious minky blanket paired with a cute headband for a newborn girl. Then it can be gift wrapped and sent directly to the new mom. I want to make it simple for my customers to pick out a gift that will dazzle the recipient.

I seriously love to create things; it is just in me. What I struggle with as a creator is putting those things online. Technology is not my strong suit; it takes me forever to sit at a computer and upload photos! It’s my goal to simplify that arduous task and get more things in my shop. Additionally, I try to keep up on my blog, but weeks often slip by with no posts (gasp!)

What’s playing on your iPod these days?
I’m into Pandora lately. My favorite channels are Miranda Lambert, Sara Bareilles, Earth Wind & Fire, Johnny Cash, Praise & Worship, Adele, and truth be told a lot of Disney is played to pacify the wee ones.

And your top 5 faves this month?
Velvet bows, new school supplies, crocheted flowers, afternoon thunderstorms, & chocolate chips out of the freezer. (Janelle, we love many of these, too!)

Visit Buttons & Birds Etsy shop or peruse items at Visalia's Studio 317! She also loves creating custom orders! Just e-mail her: jahighstreet@gmail.com. And don't forget to check out her lovely creations on her blog.

This week, Janelle is kindly giving all of our readers FREE SHIPPING by using the code CitrusandCream! And enter the giveaway to win this set of burp cloths! In order to enter, please show Buttons & Birds some love. Head over to her shop and leave us a comment, sharing what item caught your eye! (There are more easy ways to get more entries.)

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