Kicking Off Summer with a Birthday Cookout

{I hope you'll forgive the straight out of my iPhone photos.}

Yesterday was my 26th birthday.  For those who follow me on Pinterest, you probably know how obsessed I've been lately with planning food and decor ideas for summer entertaining.  I decided I wanted to celebrate my birthday by cooking and having some family over to kick off what I hope will be a full summer of cookouts and outdoor parties.  As you'll probably see from the photos, the hubby and I have a pretty modest size back yard in our little suburban starter home.  There isn't a ton of room for fancy decor and since this isn't our forever home, we don't want to invest a lot in permanent fixtures for the space.  Until this summer, we hadn't really done much for our backyard other than purchase a grill.  The hubby and I both love to entertain and I decided that this was the summer we finally give the backyard a little love and attention and really do summer right!

We recently made another (our third this year) trip up to the West Chester, Ohio IKEA and picked up an outdoor table and several very affordable (and surprisingly comfortable) chairs as well as a darling serving cart.  My birthday cookout was our first time using our new purchases and they were perfect!  Since we have a small 12'x12' deck, I set up the table and chairs on our lawn for the larger group.  I kept the table free of excess decoration since it was our first time using it and I wasn't sure how much the table could comfortably hold along with food (since we wanted to go for a more casual pass-and-serve style lunch rather than a buffet).  The result was fun and casual but still put together.

I took the opportunity to try out a few new recipes on the family and also made a few old favorites as well...

I made a pretty basic but always delicious beer can chicken (which unfortunately caught on fire while I was getting ready and not being my usual attentive self).  Fortunately it was still absolutely moist and delicious, though the skin was a little dark for my preference in places.  Every dinner party needs it's blunder, am I right?  I also made Loaded Baked Potato Salad, which has been a favorite of mine for years.  Tastes like a baked potato with all the fixings and it's great for the pickier eaters in our family.

For a second entree, hubby spiral cut some hot dogs for Hot Brown Hot Dogs.  We got the idea after having Hot Brown Hot Dogs from a little food cart at the Mayfest Arts Fair this year.  Those were okay, but they weren't amazing and hubby and I thought we could test out and perfect the idea for our big 4th of July party (so we did a trial run for my birthday).  I made a mornay sauce to top the hot dogs and then we sprinkled them with chopped bacon and tomatoes.  They were great!

For a warm, indulgent side, I tried out this Cheesy Corn Casserole.  It was basically what you'd expect if mac and cheese and creamed corn had a baby.  Corn was mixed into a basic cheese sauce and baked in the oven.  It was a lot thinner than the usual corn casserole I make for winter holiday dinners.  Honestly, it was pretty good but hubby and I didn't love it.  I did use frozen corn, which I had mistakenly(?) thawed before hand.  I do feel like this would be much better with the more firm texture of fresh corn, so I may give it a try again the future.  I'd definitely suggest scaling this recipe down though unless you're serving a huge crowd as it makes a ton and is very rich.

I also tried a little twist on the basic fruit salad that I had thought sounded intriguing.  This Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad is your standard fruit salad (I changed it up a bit and added what fruit sounded good to me/looked best at the store--I used watermelon, pineapple, strawberries, grapes, and Granny Smith apples) with a couple tablespoons of vanilla pudding mix added in to create a subtle sweet "dressing."  I didn't notice the vanilla pudding mix adding a lot of flavor and it kind of made the fruit soften quicker, so I probably won't be adding it to any future fruit salads, but it certainly wasn't bad!  I just prefer my fruit salad to be crisp and bright and unadorned.

I also whipped up some vanilla lemonade with the new citrus juicer hubby got me for my birthday (I had been wanting one for ages because I love making lemonade for parties but it was always such a pain squeezing the lemons by hand).  My vanilla lemonade recipe is something I've been meaning to share here on the blog for a while.  It's just a simple lemonade with a bit of vanilla added in, but it's so lovely and I almost always get a ton of requests from company for the recipe.  I'll do a separate post sometime soon with that recipe.

The cookout came together perfectly and it was a blessing to get to spend a little time with family to celebrate my birthday.  Hopefully this is just the start of a full summer of outdoor entertaining.  I hope to have lots of party ideas and recipes to share with you as the summer goes on.  I also plan to share more photos of our yard and some of the budget-friendly updates we've been making to the space.

I'd love to know what some of your favorite ways to celebrate summer are!  Have a killer crowd-pleasing summer dish?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments.

May 2013 Glam Bag

Ipsy's May Glam Bag was "Spring Fling" themed: Delight your beauty routine with products that will get you blooming from head to toe!  I have to say, I'm really in love with this month's theme and bag.  Ipsy hit the nail on the head and provided a great array of products that are perfect for spring and summer.  (Also, how cute is this month's chevron-printed bag?)

This month I received four amazing color makeup products and a bronzing body lotion:

Mirabella - Colour Sheers in Posy ($22.00/3 g)
Beautifully sheer lip color to wear all day and night.  Mango butter base nourishes lips.

Sample size: 3 g
Sample value: $22.00

Sheer lip colors are huge right now and I'm a big fan of their ease and comfort for everyday wear.  This Mirabella Colour Sheer glides on beautifully, feels great on the lips, and I love the color Posy provides!

Yaby - Concealer Refill in Buff ($4.85/3.5 g)
Yaby concealers have a creamy texture and are extremely easy to apply.  They are highly pigmented to correct any imperfections on the face and body, are creamy and gentle for around the eyes and are tear proof!  Vegan friendly and contain no animal byproducts.

Sample size: unknown (weighs 2 g including the pan)
Sample value: unknown (approximately $2.77)

I wasn't impressed with the Yaby eyeshadows I received in a previous Glam Bag, so I was a little hesitant about this concealer.  Unfortunately, as you will see in the swatch below, the shade I received (Buff) is much too dark for my pale skin, so this concealer won't do much for me.  From what I can gather of the texture from swatching, it feels a little dry but seems to provide nice, even coverage.  I am a bit disappointed that I received the shade Buff when Ipsy sent out a lighter shade to other subscribers. Ipsy does have a beauty profile on their website, which I have filled out to say that I am the fairest of fair skintones.  Overall, this mixup isn't too disappointing since the concealer wasn't a high-value sample and I wasn't impressed with the brand through previous sampling.

Zoya - Nail Polish in Blu ($8.00/0.5 oz)
Zoya Nail Polish and Treatments put beauty, fashion and style into every bottle with innovative custom color creations and fashion trend adaptation resulting in a truly luxury cosmetic experience.

Sample size: 0.5 oz
Sample value: $8.00

I really like Zoya polish so I was thrilled to receive one in my bag this month.  The shade I received, Blu, is a very light pastel blue, perfect for spring and unlike anything I currently own.  I'm excited to try this out for my next manicure.

Juice Beauty - Reflecting Gloss in Pink ($15.00/0.28 oz)
This exclusive, pre-launch of the Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss will give your lips brilliant shine while keeping them healthy and nourished.  A combination of antioxidant-rich acai and goji berries, natural minerals and sweet agave nectar that will give your lips radiant color.  Made with certified organic ingredients.

Sample size: 0.14 oz
Sample value: $7.50

Let me just start by saying how AMAZING this lip gloss smells.  It's so fruity and delicious, but in a natural so-fresh-you-could-eat-it kind of way.  Not only does this gloss smell divine, it feels very moisturizing and not sticky in the slightest.  It's very pleasant to wear and provides a pretty, sheer tint on the lips.  LOVE this product!

St. Tropez - One Night Only Instant Glow Body Lotion ($18.00/5 oz)
St. Tropez's lightweight cream is the perfect party accessory!  It gives you an instant beautiful golden glow that as easy to put on as it is to take off.  Who is it for?: Anyone who wants a quick boost of color when you're running out of time, heading to a party or want a bronzed glow for an event.  For a quick, non-committal, instant tan that simply washes off with soap and water.  Why is it different?: Free from tanning agents, One Night Only is transfer-resistant so you can tan and go--and look gorgeous!

Sample size: 1.69 oz
Sample value: $6.08

I'm usually one to love and embrace my fair skin, so I'm not sure I'll get much use out of this product.  Sometimes I do like to give my legs a hint of color when I'm wearing shorts or dresses in the summer, so I may end up giving this a try.  St. Tropez is a wildly popular brand, so I'm sure this is a lovely product, just not one that I would typically reach for.  The sample is a fantastic size though, so it would probably last me all summer if I do decide to use it.

Total box value: approximately $46.35

{Swatches of the Mirabella Colour Sheer in Posy, Yaby Concealer Refill in Buff, and Juicy Beauty Reflecting Gloss in Pink.}

Additionally, this month (along with other "active members of the Ipsy community") I also received one of the brand new Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadows in the shade Glitter Rock.

Urban Decay - Moondust Eyeshadow in Glitter Rock ($20.00/0.05 oz)
You've never seen a sparkly shadow this sophisticated.  Moondust is dazzling sparkly but with a super refined, incredibly sophisticated feel (and not a single speck of chunky glitter).  Microfine bits of iridescent sparkle collide with intense, dreamy hues and lush, 3-D metallics--for an effect that's out of this world.

Sample size: 0.05 oz
Sample value: $20.00

The new Moondust Eyeshadows are best applied with fingers and can be worn dry or wet (for a more intense look).  I'm a huge fan of Urban Decay shadows, so I was thrilled to receive one of these new shades!  The Moondust Eyeshadows come in seven shades; I received Glitter Rock which is a unique purple-pink.  This shade isn't something I'd normally gravitate toward, but it's very pretty and I think it would be a lot of fun for an colorful, glittery spring/summer look.  The collection does contain a few neutral shades for a more subtle, sparkly look.  I'm looking forward to experimenting with Glitter Rock.  It has a sheer quality about it--sort of a translucent, ethereal shimmer.  I think it would be lovely as a pop of color on the center of the lid, perhaps paired with a deep purple liner.

{Swatches of the Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in Glitter Rock, applied dry (left) and wet (right).}

I'm really thrilled with my Glam Bag this month.  The two lip products and nail polish are huge favorites and I'm excited to experiment with the new Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow.  This is one of my favorite Glam Bags: the products themselves are great and Ipsy did a fantastic job of choosing products that fit the theme.

May 2013 Birchbox

The May 2013 Birchbox theme was "beauty diaries."  From your morning routine (sunrise yoga or snooze button and espresso) to your ice cream preferences (classic vanilla or rocky road with all the toppings), you've got a style and personality all your own.  This month's Birchbox is about you: the order in which you try your products, your daily routine, the techniques you've mastered.  We want you to spill big-time--consider it your beauty-tell-all.

My May Birchbox included the following samples:

Joie - Folle de Joie eau de parfum ($98/3.4 oz)
For its debut scent, the chic fashion brand created this carefree mix of mandarin, rose, and sandalwood.

Sample size: 0.06 oz
Sample value: $1.73

I think this scent will be a nice summer evening fragrance.  It's a lot more bold and warm than what I typically wear, but I find it very pleasant.  It's a lovely mix of citrus, floral, and woodsy notes.  It's sophisticated while still being playful and youthful.

Klorane - Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk ($18/3.2 oz)
Beloved by celebs, this award-winning formula adds tons of texture and helps revive second-day styles.

Sample size: 1.06 oz
Sample value: $5.96

Dry shampoo is an absolute must-have product for me.  I have my favorites (Lush's No Drought and Batiste), but I'm always excited to try others.  I'm curious to try this formula since it markets itself as being "gentle."  I'm a bit skeptical of the price though; with incredibly oily hair and bangs, I go through dry shampoo rather quickly and I tend to prefer mine to be a bit more modestly priced.  This one from Klorane is $18 for 3.2 oz (which from my experience would only be enough product to last me a couple of weeks tops).  All that said, I'm really happy to have this sample to try and I've been meaning to pick up a small bottle to keep in my purse so this is PERFECT!

Supergoop! - Daily Correct SPF 35 CC Cream ($32/1.6 oz)
This next-generation CC cream provides corrective coverage and triple protects against UVA, UVB, and infrared-A rays.

Sample size: 0.1 oz
Sample value: $2

This will be the first "CC Cream" that I've tried.  I've tried numerous BB Creams and have a favorite that I use often as my foundation.  Unfortunately this product is much too dark for my skin (despite having received the "Light to Medium" shade--the lightest of the two offered); however, if I blend it throughly it sort of disappears into my skin.  At the same time though, it then provides absolutely no coverage.  This product would be more of an under-foundation sunscreen/primer for me rather than something I would use alone for protection and coverage.

Vitivia - Pro:Vitamin Capsules ($55/28 capsules)
Smooth these nifty single-use capsules on your skin.  Filled with brightening vitamin C or antiaging vitamin A to soften, they renew and repair skin.

Sample size: 6 capsules
Sample value: $11.79

I'm really curious to see what these humble looking capsules can do for my skin.  I received three of the Vitamin A capsules, which are intended to be used in the evening and claim to refine pores, smooth fine lines and reduce skin inflammation.  I also received three of the Vitamin C capsules, which are meant for use in the morning and claim to reduce hyperpigmentation while fighting wrinkles and age spots.  I definitely have a need for pore refining and reduction of hyperpigmentation, so I hope these will work for me.  I'm a bit shocked that the cost per capsule/use is almost $2.  These little capsules better work miracles!

Extra: Pilot Acroball PureWhite Pen ($6.24/4 pack)
We want our pens to be just as stylish as our accessories, which is why we love Pilot Pen's latest innovation, the new Acroball PureWhite hybrid ink pen.  Acroball PureWhite offers vibrant ink colors and all the smoothness of a gel ink pen with none of the smudging or smearing.  Plus, the color-blocked grip is comfy, on-trend and comes in a variety of gorgeous shades--this is no ordinary scribblers.

Sample size: 1 pen
Sample value: $1.56

I forgot to snap a photo of this pen.  I received the "African Violet" shade which is a fun and pretty.  I'm not overly excited about receiving an ink pen in a beauty box, but it's cute and practical so I appreciate that it's something useful.  Along with the pen, a coupon for $1 a 3, 4, or 5 pack was also included.

Total box value: $23.04

Overall I'm not especially excited about any of the products I received this month, but I'm not disappointed either.  I don't particularly feel like these products fit the "beauty diaries" theme, but I find the monthly themes are usually a little pointless since almost all the products are cycled out to different subscribers month after month.

If you received a May Birchbox, I'd love to know what you received and thought about your box this month!  Leave a comment below with details and/or a photo of your box!