Bacon Wrapped Dates

These are YUM y'all and SO super easy...the name basically explains it all!

These little delights are my go to app for any get-together mainly because they are delish but also because they are paleo-ish (so my brother will eat them) and they have bacon on them.

I made a whole sheet tray for Easter brunch and per usual my husband could not keep his hands off.

{what you need}

dates (I love the large ones from Fresh Market)

thick cut bacon (again I like Fresh Market's market cut bacon on the meat counter)

wooden tooth picks

I use a cookie sheet and baking rack so the grease from the bacon can drain through

non stick cooking spray

{what you do}

preheat oven to 350 degrees

line cookie sheet with foil and spray rack with non stick spray

cut bacon slices into thirds (I also trim a little of the white bacon fat off)

wrap bacon slice around each date and secure with tooth pick

place on cookie rack

bake in oven for about 25 mins or until bacon is crisp and fully cooked

devour

{mix it up}

Sometimes I am known to stuff these little beauties with blue cheese or almonds just to give a little extra flavor. You can add any little flavor that your heart desires - how could you go wrong?

Hope you love them as much as we do! Enjoy!

xoxo,

CAD

Weekend Recap - Easter Edition

Happy Monday Loves! I hope that everyone had a magnificent Easter! Ours was filled with sunshine, family and loads of chocolate! This weekend left me feeling beyond words blessed for my husband, family, friends, dog children and life in general.  

Here is a peek into our glorious Sunday Brunch that Reid and I hosted for our wonderful family. 

{The Decor} 

I loved to use my Grandmother's china and Great Aunt Jane's silver every chance I get and must admit that I was feeling a bit nostalgic while setting the table. Yes, I had just a few tears in my eyes thank you very much. I also just adore the way my Pinterest inspired carrot flower arrangement turned our for the food table. 

{The Food}

The food was delish and a big thank you goes out to my mother and sister-in-law Julia for their yummy contributions. 

Brunch Menu

Bloody Mary and Mimosa Bar

Honey Baked Spiral Ham 

Baked Cheese Grits with Bacon

Fresh Fruit

Strawberry and Spinach Salad 

Rolls

Deviled Eggs 

Julia's Julia Child Chocolate Cake

Easter Cupcakes 

and my husband's fav....Bacon Wrapped Dates

(I will share that easy recipe soon!)

{The Company} 

We just had a marvelous time with my parents, my brother and Julia, their little ones Palmer Nash and Libbie Jane and Didi. Reid and I are truly blessed to have these loved so close! Isn't my husband a cutie? Oh and I had to add a picture of Palmer's boots....he is too much!

{The Hunt} 

What kind of Easter brunch would it be without a proper egg hunt? Clearly, Palmer loved it! 

Have a wonderful day Loves!

xoxo,

CAD 

Five things I currently covet

Happy Friday Loves! A great big welcome goes out to those of you popping over from Five on Friday link up, so please make yourselves right at home! I just love linking up with these lovely ladies: April, Christina, Darci and Natasha! Today I thought it might be fun to share five things that I currently covet.

{one}

New pair of Jack Rogers. I go through a pair per season, and my platinum loves from last year are on their last leg. I normally repeat my previous purchase year after year but I am thinking I might branch out this year with these beauties. What do you think?

{two}

 I am pinning for a new book to read. I just finished reading The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Overall it was a good book and I'll admit that I stayed up till 2am just to finish it... sobbing of course. I am contemplating reading the Divergent series. I fell super hard for the Hunger Games books and lost a couple days of my life with my nose stuck in a book. I don't know if I am ready for that again. Could y'all be dolls and shout out some great reading recommendations? Help a sista out!

{three}

This Lilly dress...well honestly, everything on the Lilly website, but I really love this dress in particular. It just looks so comfy, forgiving and maybe I can even wear a regular bra with it! We are having a super casual Easter this year and I think I may need to sneak by our local Lilly store to snag this dress....shhhhh don't tell Reid! (He thinks every Lilly pattern looks the same anyway so he may not even notice - yay for me!)

{four}
Soooooo I really need a tan and an eyebrow wax - like something fierce. Ugh! I have been rocking some cutie dresses lately since the weather has been so nice BUT I have no business being out in public with these pastie legs. Let's not forget to mention that I have not had an eyebrow wax since middle of January, so yea, I am currently coveting and way overdue for these two luxuries.

{five}

 

I.am.obsessed with these little treats. So much so I am literately eating one right this very moment! One of my showrooms that I cover has these babies in their candy dish, and I cannot keep my paws off! They are just the perfect size and the perfect little escape from staring at my computer. I sure do hope the Easter bunny includes some in my basket (hint hint).

I think that about covers it for the moment but what about you? What amazing things are you coveting?

I wish you and your families the very happiest of Easters.

xoxo,

CAD  

Easter Basket Must Haves

Hey y'all! I hope you're having a fab week so far! Thanks again to Caroline for having me back this week! Can y'all believe it is the middle of April and spring has sprung already?! It is so hard to believe that Easter is right around the corner.

 I'm here to share all of my beauty (and a few non-beauty) items that I would love to see in my basket this Sunday (hint, hint...husband). I already have a few of these items but I love them so much that I thought you would too!

I hope y'all have a Happy Easter whether you are celebrating with family and friends or just relaxing. My husband and I will be traveling to our hometown to spend the weekend on the lake with our family.

Can't wait to share more with y'all next week...I might be cooking in the kitchen, so be sure to check in!

Have a great weekend! 

xoxo

Ashley

Provo, here we come!

via

It's official, we finally booked this trip! It only took us {well me really} 5 months to decide on a location... I may or may not be a little indecisive but hey, who cares, this trip is booked baby!

We could not have done this without our amazing travel agent Vincent, he is simply the best! We found him through dear friends when we planned our European honeymoon extravaganza last year and his recommendations were spot on. He is the most patient man and when the wanderlust bug bit us again, I emailed him right away! 

  

Reid and I were all over the place on where we wanted to explore this time around. Our travel bucket list ranges from Napa to Ireland, from Amelia Isle to Australia - basically all across the globe....

via

And of course our list of possible destination choices grew by the minute....  

Maya Rivera

Dominican Republic

Cozumel

Jamaica

Cabo

Costa Rica

Bahamas

BVI's

Turks and Caicos

I think even Alaska came up one time?

The more I researched the more confused I became. Reid and I finally whittled it down to 2 destinations....Turks and Caicos and Costa Rica.

Vincent sent us itineraries, flight information, hotels etc for both destinations and I started noticing that everything for Costa Rica was like wake up and join your private tour guide for a morning in the rain forest OR on day 3 you can explore the small village of iforgetthename and then suit up for a canopy tour... ummm this sounds great and all but, no thank you, not this time around. Mind you, last year we had this amazing, everything planned to the moment, vaca in Italy and Croatia... the kind where you get up at 7am, put on your walking shoes, get lost in ancient cities, stop at the perfect people watching stop for your daily dose of pizza and wine and visit museums/churches till your feet fall off. While this was AH-maz-ing, I came back exhausted and sooo ready for a lazy beach vacation. I want to just relax and plant my feet in the sand for a couple days. So....so long Costa Rica, we will def plan to see you soon but for now, que the frozen drinks and monogrammed derby inspired sunhat - Provo, here we come!

via

 This August, Reid and I will celebrate my 30th in Providenciales, the largest island of the Turks and Caicos chain! I am over the moon excited about this trip. I have heard nothing but great reviews of this island. Everything from the food to the beaches to the local flair sounds just perfect!

Our resort, Seven Stars, looks to be to.die.for.gorgeous and offers you a complimentary bike to tour the 12 mile island during your stay. Seven Stars is centrally located and evidently in walking distance to fab restaurants!

via

I have already compiled a "must do in provo" list thanks to my friend {and foe} Pinterst. I will be sure to share with in a future post!

That reminds me... I have so many travel posts to catch up on I am officially declaring Wednesday as travel day here on Virginia Sweet! Everyone needs a mid-week escape right?

Be sure to check back tomorrow, Ashley will be on the blog with her spring essentials and I can't wait to see what she has up her sleeves!

Much love!

CAD