Halloween By Martha

Mission: find a super yummy and fun recipe to share in honor of Halloween.

Enter Martha Stewart.

This wonder woman sure knows how to add those special touches for that wow! factor everyone hopes for. I was faced with the problem of which to pick, which I guess isn't really a problem. So I decided why pick? 

Hope you enjoy my little round-up!

1. Monster Lollipops
2. Ladies' Fingers
3. Brain Cupcakes
4. Boo-Nilla Shake
5. Bloody Tooth Cocktail
6. Dulce De Leche Bat Cookies
7. Stenciled Chocolate Cupcakes
8. Pumpkin Swirl Brownies

Spend Less!

1: ModCloth $44.99

2.Crate and Barrel $49.95

3. Old Navy $24.99

4. Top Shop $32.00

5. ModCloth $29.99

6. Forever 21 $29.80

7. Target $29.99

8. Top Shop $32.00

Queen City

Happy Monday!

How was your weekend? Fabulous I hope!

For me this past weekend was full of haunted fun:

Friday I spent the evening walking one of the country's most endangered historical areas, The Gateway District of Over the Rhine, on a haunted tour.

The Queen City is Haunted Tour.

This amazing tour was put on by American Legacy Tours.
A few friends and myself spent a little over 2 hours listening to stories of Cincinnati's German background, Over the Rhine and its' horror stories of disease, murder, and body snatching from graves. Some of these stories involved presidents, hospitals and even a local college.
I don't do well with scary movies but true stories of the past, especially about the beautiful city I call home, fascinates me.

Eric and I had such a blast we went back for a different tour on Saturday night.
On this tour we stepped foot in two extremely haunted buildings in the Gateway District with electronic devices used to detect the presence of spirits.
I felt like I was on a paranormal activity show on the Travel Channel or a member of the Ghost Busters!

After experiencing these two amazing tours I've already made future plans to attend a few of the company's other tours.
One being the Queen City Underground: Bosses, Breweries and Burials Walking Tour.
This tour actually takes you underground in the tunnels that run beneath the city.

I definitely suggest these tours for anyone in the Cincinnati/Newport area.
 If you aren't local, take a look at your city to see if there is anything similiar!

Mmmm, soup and grilled cheese.

Hopefully you've noticed I've been completely MIA from the blogging world the last two days.

I'll fill you in as to why tomorrow.

But until then ....

The weather is absolutely dreadful in Cincinnati this morning.

So I will definitely be enjoying a version of this classic combo for lunch today.

Creamy Shrimp Bisque

Ingredients

• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 green onion with tops, chopped
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 glove garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups half and half
• 3 1/2 cups fish stock
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 8 ounces cooked shrimp or lobster meat, chopped
• Homemade croutons, recipe follows

Homemade Croutons

• 3 slices white bread

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cut bread with a heart shaped cookie cutter. Place onto a cookie sheet and bake until toasted.

Directions

In a medium saucepan, add celery, onions and butter, stirring occasionally. When tender add garlic and mix together. Stir in flour and half and half. Let simmer for 5 minutes.

Stir in fish stock and parsley. Cook for 10 minutes until it thickens. Add shrimp meat and let simmer for 10 minutes or until heated through. Stir occasionally. Add salt, to taste.

When ready, serve with croutons.

{Recipe and Image found here}

"Grown Up" Grilled Cheese

Ingredients

• 1 loaf Italian bread such as ciabatta
• 1 pound Teleme or Brie cheese
• 1 pound sliced smoked ham (applewood if available)
• Butter
• 3 to 4 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 cup roasted red peppers

Directions

Cut loaf of bread in half lengthwise. Top the bottom bread slice with the Teleme cheese, then the smoked ham, distributing it evenly. Place top of bread on sandwich and brush with butter.

Heat a sandwich grill until hot. Set sandwich, butter side down in grill. Butter top side of bread. Place a heavy pan on top of entire sandwich to evenly distribute weight and cook until nicely browned and the cheese is melted, turning once, 3 to 4 minutes on each side.

Transfer the sandwich to a work surface and remove the top slice of bread. Spread the underside of the bread with mustard, and add roasted peppers, if desired.

Replace the top slice of bread, cut the sandwiches into slices, and serve immediately.

{Recipe and Image found here}

Hungry? Because You Will Be.

A few weeks ago a good friend introduced me to the amazing food blog Spoon Fork Bacon and the minute I  saw what delicious bites they had to offer I knew I had to share with you all!

Teri Lyn Fisher and Jenny Park are the masterminds behind this food blog: Jenny handles food styling and Teri photographs the amazing works of art. 

And I must say they are a genius combination!

Above are just a few of the recipes that left my tummy rumbling but there is so much more over at their blog.

I recommend you go check it out.

Seriously! 

Go Now!

Any of their recipes a must try for you?

Enjoy!

Family Reunion Weekend Part 2

Not only was it our family reunion weekend but it also happened to be Loudonville Fair weekend. The fair is the first weekend of October every year and it had been years since I had been. As a kid we made our way up to grandma and grandpa's every year and would play every game and ride every ride possible.

So Saturday morning after breakfast the family made our way into town to visit the fair.

No games or rides this year but plenty of fair food. 

The two main things on my list: honey roasted almonds and freshly shaken lemonade!

Saturday night we made our way to the lodge at the Mohican State Park to join the rest of the family for dinner. It was so fun to see family I don't get to see that often since we are all over the country: Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, Caronlina.

Though my favorite part of the evening was listening to my mom and her cousins tell stories of my Great Grandparents and all their favorite memories.

Sunday before leaving I made my way up to my favorite spot on grandma's property.

At the top of the hill there is a path that leads to a clearing. As a kid I loved playing up there, I came up with so many adventures; now I can actually enjoy the beauty of it.

The clearing used to be the Old 3C Brick Highway and now you can find piles of the old bricks laying around. 

The views are amazing and it's the best place to lay a blanket down and take a nap, read, or picnic.

This weekend was amazing.

There is nothing better than leaving than all forms of contact and spending the weekend with your family.

It's something I need to do more often.

Happy Tuesday Lovelies!

xoxo.

Family Reunion Weekend Part 1

This past weekend my entire family was in Loudonville Ohio for the Conrad family reunion 

{my grandpa's side of the family}.

The house my mom and uncle grew up in is the house my grandpa built after him and grandma were married. 

My grandma is 89 years young and still lives in the same house.

Summers growing up my brothers and I would each spend a week alone up at grandma and grandpas and it was usually the best week of the summer.

What's better than being spoiled by grandma and grandpa?

Some things haven't changed in my 25 years of going up to grandma's.

The huge tree my brothers and I would climb is still standing and grandma still makes her way to the 3rd floor to do her sewing.

If you couldn't find grandpa growing up he was sure to be in 1 of 3 places:

1. his workshop

2. the hobby room building his boats

or

3. out in the yard on his wheel horse tractor {yes it still works!}

The weather was PERFECT and I did a lot of roaming around.

More pictures to come tomorrow!

Until then pop over to A {Little} Dash of Ash where I've linked up for another round of Monday's Instagram Link up.

Hope you're weekend was as amazing as mine!

Happy Monday!

Weekend Away

At Grandma's for the weekend.

Be back Monday!

Happy Friday lovelies!

One of the Greats

Rest in Peace.

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking, and don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know it when you find it." ~ Steve Jobs

{photo via Design Droplets}

A Birthday

Happy Birthday to one of the best guys I know! My {youngest} older brother turns 27 today.

Growing up we didn't always get along but I blame that on us being exactly 14 months apart to  the day. As we've gotten older all that has changed. I really have no idea what I would do with out him. And yes that even includes the teasing I receive from him. But hey, what are big brothers for?

Happy Birthday Nick!

See you this weekend.

Love you, xoxo.

Columbus Ohio

This past weekend was a blast:

New fall hair color.

Saw my beautiful college roommates.

Met fun new friends.

Saw line dancing at its' best.

 Tailgated for The Buckeyes.

And

Ventured to a few of my favorite places:

Clintonville Antique Shops

Spinelli's Deli

The Book Loft

Since I documented all the fun times I've linked up over at A {Little} Dash of Ash for another Instagram Link Party.

Pop on over to check out the others!

Happy Monday!

{so excited for my short week!}