Over 100!

So remember when summer took over our lives?  It did for me and has been tons of fun!  This past couple of weeks have been crazy busy with camping, playing with friends, and suffering in a Portland heat wave (that has since cooled off...at least until this weekend).  I have camping recipes ready to share with you - dutch oven cooking is the best.

Something else happened around here - there are now over 100 followers for Pretty Dubs.  I'm happy that I've been able to share some things that you all enjoy.  It makes this blog totally worth it.  SO IN CELEBRATION...I want to make something to give away.  BUT I think it would be fun to have your input.

My idea is a ruffle apron.  Is there anything on here that you'd enjoy seeing as a giveaway?

This corn was awesome while we were camping.  Fresh and moist, although we boiled it instead of putting it over the fire.

Summer Salad Tasting and Recipe Exchange



Such a fun night last night!  We haven't had any recipe exchanges among friends for a while and this was a perfect kick-off.  We each brought a salad recipe, labeled it with its name and ours, and took turns tasting everything.  


We plan on continuing our food parties by volunteering to host/pick a dish type or ingredient and have started a blog to document The Recipes.  The person running the blog for us took pictures at the event to post along with the recipe.  Awesome idea.


So if you wanted to start a food swap like this, send an email to your friends with the date/time/place and with the instructions to either bring a recipe or email it to you for an electronic distribution (however you want to plan yours).  You will also need to specify the food type.  For example, it could be *salads, desserts, meatless main dishes, drinks, breakfast foods OR you could even choose an ingredient, saying everyone has to bring something with feta or chili powder or chicken, etc.  Have fun! 

Bean Salad
1 can green beans
1 can white beans
1 can red kidney beans
1 can garbanzo beans
1 can black beans
1/4 - 1/2 red onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped

1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp ground dry mustard
1 tsp dried tarragon


Drain all the beans and mix together in a large bowl.  Add the diced onion, diced green and red peppers, and chopped cilantro.  Set aside.  In a small saucepan, mix the vinegar, oil, sugar, dry mustard, and tarragon over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and pour over bean mixture.  Stir until all ingredients are coated.  Let sit in the fridge to marinate, stirring occasionally.  (Still good if eaten right away)  *Hominy is also a yummy ingredient to add.

A Busy Week

The last couple weeks have been busy around here.  I helped one of the young women from our church make a quilt, had my sister and her hubs visit, and worked a ton in the yard.  Yesterday I had to top it off with some cinnamon rolls.  I can't believe we're on the count-down for summer to end!  It has flown by.

I'll show a picture of the finished quilt, I don't want to spoil it.  But here's the fabric we used and it turned out beautiful!

I did practice some heel kick at the beach!  It was a beautiful day and we had tons of fun.  The famous Cannon Beach domes are in the background.

If you ever go to Cannon Beach, go the the Ecola Seafood place.  (bad name...hmmm)  All their fish is fresh and their fish and chips are the best I've ever tasted!

The kids are really enjoying our new swing set!  

And then we did squeeze in some puppet making project time.  I was a cool mom that day!  (Sometimes I feel like a slacker, but making puppets clothing from fabric makes up for it...maybe)


And this is what I ate for breakfast!  I made and delivered some warm cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting last night.  I don't know why taking baked goods to people makes me happy...but I'm glad it does.  The only downfall is that I end up eating way to many myself.  Find the recipe here, but the frosting recipe is this one: doubled, minus the cocoa, and plus 4 oz of cream cheese.

Lay Baby Lay

I happened upon an awesome nursery decorating blog.  Joni at lay baby lay makes design boards for nursery decorating ideas.  I wish I had a room for a nursery, but don't.  Even so, there are some awesome pieces and inspiration in her vignettes.  You'll be sucked in.

She has this free printable.  Love it.  It's printed in blue and ready to find a frame.  You can find it here.
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