And, what’s even better than ribs? How about that wonderful, beloved invention that became a lifesaver to working moms everywhere – the crockpot. The slow cooker. Whatever you call it, it’s a godsend. Truly!

I adore loading that baby up with food, walking away and having an amazing ready-to-eat meal later on in the day.

Talk about convenience, right?

Of course, writing about the crockpot got me to thinking about the crockpot and how it came to be, so off to research I went The perils of being a writer – you WANT to know everything! At least that’s how my brain works.

Anywho, according to Culinary Lore, the crockpot was originally sold by the Rival Company, but invented in 1938 by a man named Irving Naxon. The story is that he was attempting to re-create one of his grandmother’s recipes. His small company was purchased by Rival and the known version of the crockpot became popular around 1970.

Yay, Irving! Thank you so much

I personally can’t imagine not having the crockpot in my life! Just sayin’ – it’s kind of important!

As an aside, I’ve also been trying to recreate family recipes for years and have yet to invent anything resembling the crockpot! Darn it! I, too, could be a wealthy inventor by now Hmmm…maybe I should pull out the sketchpad and begin some schematics for a new invention.

C’mon cooks! What do you need? What’s missing in your arsenal of kitchen gadgets?

OK, OK – enough dreaming about inventions and money – I’m going back to the ribs. This is another one of those recipes my momma used to make, just like her meatloaf, that I’ve tweaked a tad over the years.

Her recipe was somewhat similar to this one, but I chose to add Coke to the recipe, while she always used water. I also added the Italian dressing, which she didn’t use at all.

When I’m creating or even tweaking recipes, I generally toss in a little of this and a little of that just to see how something works out! How about you? Is that how you come up with new recipes?

Often, those tweaks will stem from me trying something and immediately knowing that it needs something else or that something needs to be removed from a recipe. Sometimes, one of the boys will tell me something’s amiss.

Essentially, it’s the one time it’s perfectly okay to play with your food

OK, back to the ribs, again. I keep getting off track!

We generally pair our ribs with whatever I happen to have on hand for sides. Usually a veggie and a starch – I’m kind of old school like that! Well…maybe because I’m kinda old Honestly, I love homemade mac and cheese with pork for some reason, so that’s often on the menu! Plus, it’s just kind of nummy

Anyways, grab yourself some spareribs, pull out the crockpot and get dinner on before you head to work. It will be ready to go by the time you get home and all you’ll need to do is prepare the sides and serve!

Then you can spend your evening enjoying time with your loved ones instead of in the kitchen.

Slow Cooker Spare Ribs

These fall-off-the-bone spareribs are made right in the crockpot and only require a handful of ingredients. Perfect for those days when you need to fix it and forget it – until it's time to eat it, of course!

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: bbq, barbecue, ribs, spareribs,

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours hours

Total Time: 8 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Lori Wallace-Roberts

Equipment

• 1 Crockpot or Slow Cooker

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
• 1/2 cup Italian dressing
• 1 can Coca Cola
• 4-5 lbs spare ribs

Instructions

• In small bowl, combine brown sugar, salt, pepper, onion powder, Italian dressing, barbecue sauce and Coca Cola. Mix thouroughly.
• Add a layer of ribs to the slower cooker (you may need to cut slab in half). Pour part of sauce of first layer, then add more ribs and more sauce. Repeat each layer until all ribs are covered.
• Cover and cook on low for about 7-8 hours, until ribs are tender.
• Remove ribs and serve with additional barbecue sauce, if desired.

Did you try this recipe? I’d love to see!Share a photo and mention @quitesimplyus or tag #quitesimplyus!

The post Fall Off the Bone Crockpot Spareribs appeared first on Quite Simply Us.

And let’s face it, the selfie, whether alone or in a group, is here to stay. According to the folks over at Photutorial, 2.3 billion photos are taken each day, with 92 million of those being selfies.

That’s 92 million selfies taken per day! An awful long way from the first selfie ever taken, huh?

Honestly, with so many selfies being taken every day, you wouldn’t think taking the perfect group selfie would be all that difficult. But…sometimes it certainly seems to be.

As much as I hate to say it, I do think we’ve become a bit of a narcissistic, selfie-obsessed society. But, I also believe there is a time and place to take the perfect selfie, too. In my mind, it’s a balancing act between taking selfies for the sake of seeing yourself on camera to taking selfies to commemorate family, friends and events. You know, to document those memories.

I am in no way a professional photographer, but over the years, I’ve learned a few things that seem to help when it comes to the group selfie.

Light is Your Friend

Let me rephrase that – light is your friend unless it’s directly behind you – then it creates those weird, unflattering shadows that just don’t help anyone. Instead, do your best to keep the light in front of you. And, I hope it goes without saying that natural light is far better than any other kind.

If you do happen to be in a dimly lit area, try to keep the light on your face, if at all possible.

Take Lots and Lots of Snaps

Back when I was young (showing my age here), you loaded film into a camera, took a picture and crossed your fingers that it turned out okay. In all reality, you probably had about a 50-50 chance. But, you DIDN’T have the luxury of taking picture after picture because film and developing just cost WAY too much.

I mean, does anyone remember the Fotomat?

But nowadays, the remarkable digital age makes it easy to take picture after picture after picture. And I’m serious, take far more than you think you’ll ever need, because guess what? Literally half of them will be terrible and hit the trash bin as soon as you start to review them.

Oh, wait! Am I the only one that does that?

Love your Selfie Stickk

Ummm! Does that title sound a little naughty? Just me? OK – I digress!

I’ve said it before, but I totally adore my selfie stick. I love it so much I gifted my girlfriends with their very own selfie stick at a favorite things Christmas party. Although I have a great Canon DSLR camera with multiple lenses that I absolutely adore, I never, ever leave home without that selfie stick.

And why the selfie stick? Well – my hands are simply NOT big enough to hold the phone and click the button to take pictures. My selfie stick, on the other hand, has a tiny little remote that I can click and click and click until I can’t click anymore (wait, that sounds kind of naughty too)! What’s wrong with me today?

Anyways, my selfie stick also has a little tripod function, so I can set it up anywhere and snap candid pics without anyone knowing. How great is that? And no, that doesn’t mean I act like a voyeur (rolls eyes), but candid shots are always pretty special!

Be on the Same Page

You’re diligently trying to get the perfect selfie and, wouldn’t you know it, your bestie is smiling away and you’re sitting there cross-eyed with your tongue hanging out. Before you begin snapping pics, try to get on the same page with your group. Determine what kind of pics you’re taking. Funny. Serious. Tongues out? Tongues in?

I mean, sometimes the differences in faces can be charming, but once in a while you just want a great pic, where you’re all looking your best and doing the same thing. The kind of pic you can print out and frame for your desk

The key to making that happen is communication – just talk for a few seconds before each pic and you’ll stand a better chance of getting a cohesive look.

Vary the Shots

Don’t let only the person in the front, middle take the shot. Instead, pass the phone and selfie stick off to different group members. Doing so, will allow for lots of different angles and offer more variety in your pictures. Sometimes a minor change can mean a world of difference in your photos.

Another good idea is to have the person holding the camera up front and have the remainder of the group stand back just a bit. It gives a completely different perspective than if you were all grouped together tightly.

Play with Filters

OK, I might get some guff for this one, but filters CAN be fun. Don’t go so crazy that you no longer have a nose or are TOTALLY unrecognizable, but a touch up or a bit of brightening is perfectly okay in my opinion.

Sometimes I’ll use filters and other times I’ll go completely au natural – just depends on what I’m going for.

But, I do shake my head at some of the crazy things people do. Like, can someone explain the need to filter an infant? Sorry folks, they are perfect already! Stop filtering babies, please! Serious pet peeve over here Of course, that could just be my age, too. What do you think?

If you’re on the hunt for a great photo app, I recommend Facetune. Although I have lots of other apps, Facetune has been my favorite for sometime now, primarily because it’s so easy to use for those of us that AREN’T graphic designers.

Know Your Angles

I personally have a fetish for pics where everyone is looking up toward the camera. But vary those shots and try different angles – that’s what makes pictures so fun. Look up and take one from above. Look down and take one from below. Take one from the right. Take one from the left. (did I just create a new line dance over here)?

In a group shot, it’s tough to get every individual’s best angles, but if one of your friends is adamant about her right side being her go to, then try to position her that way whenever you’re able. If you’re like me and my gals, we don’t remotely worry about our ‘best’ angle.

At our age, everything is perfectly peachy as long as we still have angles and we’re still here to snap some photos

Burst It

Do you ever use the burst function on your phone? Taking so many pictures in rapid succession can be a lifesaver, especially for any moving subject.

Basically, this continuous shooting function snaps multiple frames per second, capturing every minute difference from one frame to the next.

The burst function is available on both iPhone and Android. Depending on your phone model, the steps to get to the burst function might look just a touch different.

Give it a try and see how it works out for you. I always love to play with the features my phone has to offer!

Background

If you have amazing scenery around you, be sure to try and get some of it in your group shot. Not only does having that perfect scenery or historical building make for a wonderfully unique backdrop, it also helps commemorate a moment in time and document where and what you were doing at a specific time.

While taking the perfect group selfie might be a bit of an undertaking, it’s well worth the time when you look back at those pics and find a hidden gem mixed in with those shots with the bad lighting, crazy angles or weird facial expressions on all your friends.

But remember, at its core, the entire reason for taking all those group selfies is to document the amazing memories you’re making with your loved ones. Take your selfies and have fun with them – and sometime, decades from now, you’ll look back with fondness on all of the amazing adventures you had during your lifetime.

The post Taking the Perfect Group Selfie appeared first on Quite Simply Us.

I don’t really care where the hot dog originated – all I care is that we’re able to eat them from time to time. And, societally speaking, we eat them A LOT! No matter the spring or summer holiday, from Memorial Day to Labor Day and every holiday in between, we’re a nation who loves our hot dogs. We pull them out for BBQ’s, quick dinners on busy weeknights, graduation parties, retirement shindigs and the 4th of July. Sometimes we yank them out for a quick afternoon snack, too.

We grill them, boil them, microwave them, air fryer them, roast them over an open flame and cook them a dozen other ways. Heck, some people still pull them out of the fridge and eat them raw…ummm…yuck

Anywho, the hot dog is just a quintessential part of the American culture. Just like baseball, apple pie and muscle cars, the hot dog is a classic.

In honor of the amazing hot dog, I’ve rounded up some unique hot dog recipes, sure to make you rethink how you’ve been serving your dogs all these years. While some recipes are a bit more aligned with the traditional dogs, others are definitely a tad different and march to the beat of their very own hot dog drummer

The next time you’re pulling out the dogs, be sure to step out of your comfort zone and give one of these new ones a try. Pair them with your favorite salad and you’ll be all set for your next cookout, holiday or family dinner.

All American Club Dogs

Just as the name suggests, all American club dogs are modeled after your favorite club sammich and feature toppings like bacon, cheese, lettuce and tomato! They don’t stray too far from the classic dog – but there is definitely a bit of added flair.

Arugula & Radish Relish Grilled Hot Dogs

A touch of peppery arugula combined with a homemade radish relish is just what’s needed to create this great gourmet dog with a totally different flavor profile. A combo of yellow and honey mustard rounds out this flavorful and extremely unique take on a dog.

Bacon Wrapped Sonoran Hot Dogs

A combination taco and hot dog are what you’ll get with this fun take on a hot dog. The hot dog is wrapped in bacon and topped with queso fresco, red onion, tomato, cilantro, avocado, sour cream and hot sauce. Oh my heaven. Did I mention the bun is slathered with refried beans? If you’re a Mexican food fan, be sure to give this one a try.

Banh Mi Turkey Hot Dogs

Have you ever had the ever-popular Vietnamese banh mi sammich? First of all, if you haven’t, go find somewhere to get an authentic one! Right now! They’re amazing. This spin on the hot dog features traditional Banh Mi ingredients such as carrot, daikon, cucumber, mint and cilantro, all topped with rice vinegar and siracha and served atop a hot dog! OMG. And why not?

Carrot Dogs for the Grill (Vegan)

For the vegans out there, how about giving a carrot dog a try. The ‘meatiness’ of the carrots along with the flavor from the marinade and the grill give you just the right flavor and ersatz hot-dog eating experience.

Chicago Dog

Just like with BBQ, every state or region has their own method of serving hot dogs. The Chicago dog features brown mustard, relish, pickles, onion, tomato and hot peppers. And I promise – there’s plenty of room for the hot dog with all those amazing toppings.

Coney Island Hot Dogs

You simply can’t go wrong with a good old-fashioned Coney dog with onions, chili sauce and mustard. And, seriously, take the time to make some homemade Coney sauce – it truly does make a world of difference. What’s better to serve at your BBQ’s all summer long, huh?

Greek Hummus and Tzatziki Hot Dog

I’m a big fan of Greek food and the delectable flavors that go into everything Greek. I also love hummus, but I confess I never thought of putting it on a hot dog – until now. The Greek dog features hummus, cucumber, bell pepper and red onion. Of course it wouldn’t be Greek without the Tzatziki! Mmmmm! My mouth is watering over here:)

Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs

Do you love grilled cheese as much as I do? If so, you’ll love the grilled cheese dog with bacon and sweet onions, all layered on a crispy bun and nestled in with the beloved hot dog.

Homemade Pretzel Dogs

If you love pretzels, the homemade pretzel dog might be just what you’re looking for. The perfect saltiness of pretzels all wrapped around your favorite hot dog – does it get any better than that? Well, the only thing that might make it better is dipping it in a tad bit of mustard

Best Hot Dog Toppings

What’s a hot dog without just the right toppings. From the traditional stylings of ketchup and mustard to the more unique toppings like kimchi, you’re sure to find something that tickles your hot dog fancy! Check out this comprehensive hot dog topping list and try something new and innovative the next time you reach for the dogs.

Whole Wheat Hot Dog Buns

What’s a hot dog without the right bun, hmmm? Of course you can grab some at the local supermarket, but have you ever tried making your own? If not, it will elevate your hot dog eating experience exponentially. What’s even better is that they freeze great, so make up a big batch and be ready for dogs at moment’s notice.

The post It’s All About the Dogs – The Hot Dogs, That Is! appeared first on Quite Simply Us.

Sometimes I just get a craving for those old-fashioned recipes – you know the ones that mom used to make. One of those recipes is stuffed peppers. I’ve never been able to duplicate mom’s recipe (I’ve got a lot of those), but I’ve got some of my own tried and true stuffed pepper recipes that I really do enjoy. I also have a deconstructed pepper recipe that’s perfect for those busy days when you just don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. At it’s core, it’s a one-pot stuffed pepper skillet.

You’ll love it, especially if you’re a fan of the original stuffed peppers like mom or grandma used to make!

Made in one pot (isn’t that awesome), this stuffed pepper skillet has ALL the flavors of regular stuffed peppers, but is truly half the work. No hollowing out the peppers. No stuffing of the peppers. Ya know – all the steps that have you sighing and wondering if you’ll EVER make it out of the kitchen.

Really, the one-pot stuffed pepper skillet recipe is all about dicing everything up, combining it in the skillet and cooking until you have stuffed pepper perfection.

And let’s talk about one-pot meals for just a second. They really are amazing, aren’t they? If you need another one to fill out your weekly menu, give my one-pot taco pasta a try the next time you need a different take on taco Tuesday.

This is one of those dishes the whole family will enjoy. Pair it with a light salad, your favorite crusty bread and you’re all set with a fantastic evening meal. Better yet, you’ll be out of the kitchen in about an hour!

Woot woot! What ARE you going to do with the extra time?

One-Pot Stuffed Pepper Skillet

An update on the classic, this one-pot stuffed pepper skillet recreates the flavors of traditional stuffed peppers in a fresh and remarkably easy way. You'll have dinner on the table in about an hour.

4.80 from 5 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: one pot recipe, stuffed peppers, casserole, bell peppers,

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Author: Lori Wallace-Roberts

Equipment

• 1 large stockpot or skillet

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 yellow onion
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 12 ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed with all water squeezed out
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 2 cups water
• 1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes (15 ounce)
• 1 can tomato sauce (8 ounce)
• 1 cup uncooked brown rice
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

• In stockpot, heat oil over medium high heat. Saute onion for about 5 minutes, until translucent. Add ground beef and cook until browned, about 7 minutes.
• Stir in cumin, Italian seasoning, pepper, salt and garlic and cook for about 1 minute. Mix in spinach, red and green peppers, tomatoes, tomato sauce, rice, Worchestershire sauce and water.
• Bring mixture to a boil and reduce heat and simmer, covered, for approximately 45 minutes. Be sure to stir often so rice doesn't stick to bottom of pan.
• Remove from heat and sprinkle cheese on top. Recover.
• Sit aside for about 5-7 minutes, until cheese is melted.

Notes

1. You can certainly substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the ground beef.
2. Substitute different colored bell peppers, if desired.
3. Leftovers can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for about 3 days and reheated on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Did you try this recipe? I’d love to see!Share a photo and mention @quitesimplyus or tag #quitesimplyus!

The post One-Pot Stuffed Pepper Skillet appeared first on Quite Simply Us.

Before we get to the recipes, I want you to think about the word salad for just a minute! What’s the first thing that comes to mind?

Is it a traditional salad with veggies and dressing? What about pasta salad? Maybe potato salad? Egg salad, tuna salad, chicken salad. Salads really are all over the place, aren’t they! The possibilities are totally endless.

I’ve rounded up some of the best ‘salad’ recipes around and compiled them into an easy to use list so you can find just what you’re looking for.

Don’t worry – we’ve got ya covered so you can celebrate National Salad Month all salad season long! Enjoy!

All About the Veg

Bring on the Beans

Corn, Corn and More Corn

It’s so Fruity

Kinda Grainy

Pasta Salad, Please

Positively Potato

Protein Power

Very Vegan

All About the Veg

Spinach, Asparagus & Fennel Salad

What’s not to like? You’ve got delicious spinach and asparagus and totally underused fennel, all combined in a healthy salad that CAN be whipped up ahead of time. The tangy dressing with tarragon adds just the right amount of flavor to this salad, which is perfect for a spring meal.

Cucumber Salad with Hearts of Palm

If you’re like me, you might just love the ‘no lettuce’ salad now and then. Crispy cucumber combined with creamy hearts of palm offers an unusual take on this fresh salad. Unique and perfect for a warm summer day.

Wedge Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing (Homemade)

My besties all love a good wedge salad! Why not make your own at home, with a homemade buttermilk ranch dressing? And, of course, bacon! Must have a little bacon Simple, versatile and oh so easy.

Shaved Brussel Sprouts Salad

If you like brussel sprouts as much as I do, you’re going to love this shaved brussel sprout salad, filled with walnuts and cranberries and topped with a mustard vinaigrette. It’s just so easy to up your salad game with this delightful salad. Oh, and it’s vegan, low carb AND gluten free. Tick, tick, tick!

Panzanella Salad

If you’ve never tried a panzanella salad, you’re in for a treat. Especially if you’re a bread lover. Panzanella basically means bread salad, so obviously as a bread lover I’m all in over here. Simple, fresh ingredients like tomato, mozzarella pearls, red onion and basil, along with yummy dried bread, make up this delightful salad.

Bring on the Beans

Cannellini Bean Salad

The slightly nutty flavor of cannellini beans combined with red onion and plum tomato makes an ideal bean salad. It’s packed with protein and perfect for a quick lunch on its own or it can be served as a light side with dinner all season long.

Mixed Bean Salad Balela (Middle Eastern Style)

Kidney beans and chickpeas meld together in this mixed bean salad packed with middle eastern flavors. Both vegan and gluten-free, this gorgeous salad not only looks amazing, it tastes wonderful too!

Black Bean Corn Avocado Salad

Celebrate National Salad Month with this this tasty salad. Corn, black beans, red onions and rice are tossed in a tangy lime vinaigrette creating the perfect bite. Serve it with all your favorite summer meals or pack it up to take to your next summer hootenanny.

Green Bean Salad (Easy Italian Recipe – Served Cold or Hot)

4 ingredients is all you’ll need to throw this green bean salad together. This versatile salad can be served hot or cold, depending on your dining needs.

10 Minute Four Bean Salad

Any recipe that starts of with ’10 minute’ has me on the hook. 10 minute four bean salad consists of cannellini, garbanzo, green and black beans, all tossed in a simple oil and vinegar dressing. How simple is that?

Corn, Corn and More Corn

Charred Corn & Poblano Salad

Oh my heavens! This charred corn & poblano salad is a great side option for your regular weeknight dinner. It’s even perfect to load up and take to your favorite memorial day potluck. It’s low in both sodium and fat!

Summer Corn Salad

Corn, tomatoes onions and feta are all tossed in a lovely apple cider vinaigrette. This colorful corn salad just screams summer, which is probably why my taste buds are watering over here.

Low Fat Thai Corn Salad

Sweet and light, you’ll keep coming back for more of this low fat Thai corn salad. Corn and red cabbage with a tangy Thai dressing will get your taste buds going. Prawns atop the salad add just the right amount of protein packed flavor.

Cajun Corn Salad

Fire roasted corn is the key to this tasty salad with Cajun spices. The corn and onion add crunch, while the tomatoes add just the right amount of juiciness. It makes an ideal side at all the fun BBQs you’ll be attending this summer.

Mexican Elote Street Corn Kale Salad with Spicy Yogurt Lime Dressing

This Mexican inspired salad features street corn and kale all mixed in a yogurt dressing with a hint of lime and a hint of spice. The crunch of the red onion and the creaminess of the avocado tie the whole thing together.

It’s so Fruity

Spinach Raspberry Salad with Balsamic Reduction

You had me at raspberries! The combo of baby spinach, raspberries, almonds and shaved parm was simply meant for a lazy summer afternoon. Perfect for your next ladies’ luncheon!

Peach Burrata Salad with Basil Vinaigrette

Peaches! Burrata! Basil! That’s all I really need to hear! Oh, did I mention strawberries? All mixed into a flavorful Basil vinaigrette. This delicious salad is ideal for a spring or summer afternoon.

Mango Caprese Salad

Talk about making a statement! This mango caprese salad, with it’s stunning, colorful display of mangos, tomatoes and mozzarella pearls, not only LOOKS amazing, it tastes amazing too. It’s the perfect accompaniment to your summer table. A great side or a wonderful refreshing lunch all on its own.

Mexican Watermelon Salad

Juicy watermelon tops a bed of greens in this Mexican watermelon salad. Crunchy pepitas, queso fresco and tasty vinaigrette round out this salad that’s perfectly refreshing on a hot summer day.

Marinated Tomato Salad

How beautiful is this marinated tomato salad? Served over a bed of greens, the simple vibes of this salad will have you coming back for more all season long.

Kinda Grainy

Greek Couscous Salad

Pearl couscous combined with Greek staples like cucumber, grape tomato, red onion, chickpeas, lemon and Kalmata olives make a fabulous salad that’s ideal on it’s own or perfect as your go-to summer side.

Quinoa Salad

I’m not going to lie – I only recently got into eating quinoa and boy, it’s fabulous. I was always a couscous girl (which I still love), but quinoa has a nutty taste that’s simply wonderful. Chock full of all the veggie goodness you could possibly want, this salad makes a great side for all your summer meals.

Vegetable Confetti Barley Salad

Quick to the table, this barley salad is chock full of your favorite vegggies like tomato, red onion, corn and bell pepper. Heck, black eyed peas even make an appearance. This salad is ideal for a summer side at your weeknight dinner or to take to your next big gathering.

Instant Pot Kisir (Spicy Turkish Bulgur Salad)

This Turkish staple full of bulgur or cracked wheat is packed full of flavor. You start with the salad base and add in your Kisir additions after you complete the pressure cooking stage. Yummy pomegranate molasses adds a touch of sweetness to this dish.

Chickpea Salad with Lentils and Mediterranean Flavors

Chickpeas and lentils mixed with Mediterranean staples like black olives, tomatoes and feta cheese make the perfect summer salad that can be served as a side or a complete meal.

Pasta Salad, Please

Italian Summer Pasta Salad

Sometimes, you just want the taste of a traditional pasta salad, and this one has just that. Colorful rotini pasta mixed with tomatoes, cucumber, basil, mozzarella and Italian dressing is just what’s needed for your next summer meal. I often keep a bowl of pasta salad in the fridge all summer long. Perfect for sides, light lunches or even light snacking

Zesty Tex Mex Chicken Pasta Salad

This Tex Mex salad can be served hot or cold – your choice entirely! Chicken and Tex Mex flavors mesh in this tasty pasta salad that’s sure to fill you up and have you coming back for more.

Elbow Macaroni Pasta Salad

What better way to celebrate National salad month than with a traditional macaroni salad, chock full of mayo, mustard and sour cream! It’s perfect on a hot summer day and to take to all your picnics, potlucks and BBQs where everyone can enjoy.

Tuscan Tortellini Pasta Salad

A balsamic and honey dressing tops this tasty tortellini salad, filled with juicy tomatoes, cheese, spinach and pepperoni. This is one the whole family will enjoy.

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

The apple cider vinegar is what makes this tangy macaroni salad so special. Tossed with carrots, onions and mayo, it’s just the right side dish for all your summer BBQs.

Positively Potato

Deviled Egg Potato Salad

If you love potato salad and you love deviled eggs, you’re going to adore this deviled egg potato salad. They’re both amazing on their own, but combined they’re simply out-of-this-world. This devilish potato salad is perfect for any summer event you might attend.

Creamy Potato Salad

Traditional mayo, along with sour cream and green onions make this creamy potato salad a dish all its own. Sometimes, a simple salad is all you need to make a statement.

Creamy Dill Potato Salad (Vegan Option)

The tangy taste of dill elevates this potato salad that can be made either vegan or vegetarian with a few minor adjustments. You won’t go wrong taking this to your next potluck!

Curried Potato Salad

Potatoes, chickpeas, red peppers are all tossed in a yogurt, mayo and mustard dressing. Curry spices give this potato salad a unique spin.

The Best Vegan Potato Salad

Mom’s secret ingredient (it was my mom’s too) is what adds the tang to this vegan potato salad. You’ll make everyone happy with this one.

Protein Power

Radicchio Endive Chicken Salad with Creaming Honey Mustard Dressing

Radicchio, endive, chicken all combine in this salad that’s almost too pretty to eat! Touches of tomato and a fabulous honey mustard dressing are just what’s needed on a hot summer day.

Chicken Fajita Salad

Creamy avocado, peppers, tomato and chicken make up this amazing chicken fajita salad, that’s just perfect for two. This would make a great light lunch or dinner.

Classic Tuna Nicoise Salad

If you’ve never tried the French classic, tuna nicoise salad, you’re in for a treat. The salad features tuna, potatoes, egg, and green beans, all served with a vinaigrette.

Grilled Shrimp Salad

Fire up the BBQ for this one – the corn, bell pepper and shrimp are all prepared on the grill and served atop a mixed green salad with cucumber, tomato and avocado. This fresh salad screams of summer and it’s one you’ll enjoy all season long.

Greek Salad with Beef Kabobs

Traditional elements of Greek cuisine, red onions, feta cheese, grape leaves, and cucumber combine in the base of the salad, which is topped off with marinated, grilled beef kabobs.

Very Vegan

Easy Cucumber Salad

Sometimes a simple salad is all you need. Cucumber, red onion and a tangy dressing are all you need for this perfect side dish that will have you coming back for more.

Vegan Italian Chopped Salad

Crispy cucumbers, chickpeas, tomatoes, olives and pepperoncini top this chopped salad that’s just right for any warm summer day.

Healthy Taco Salad

This vegan taco salad is oil free and gluten free and full of plant-based proteins for a filling meal. Corn and avocados add just the right amount freshness and flavor.

Vegan Layered Pasta Salad with Pesto

How pretty would this veggie trifle be in the center of your table. Filled to the brim (and then some) with yummy goodies like cucumber, tomatoes, zucchini, beetroot, corn and pasta, you’re sure to find something you like in this bowl of goodness.

Vegan White Bean Salad

White beans, cucumber, onion, dill and lemon are packed into this vegan white bean salad that packs a flavor punch.

The post Celebrate National Salad Month appeared first on Quite Simply Us.

Initially, I was trying to find someplace nearby that served those extreme Bloody Mary’s! You know, those crazy looking things with an entire meal on a skewer? I wasn’t having any luck, so I had to change course pretty quick. Still on the lookout for an extreme Bloody Mary somewhere nearby! There’s plenty a few hours away and I’m sure we’ll get there at some point, but it would be nice to have one within an hour or so.

We began the day at Christine’s house where we started our morning off right with mimosas…errr…prossecosas (yes, making words up again) – Prosecco instead of Champaign! Don’t judge – we love mimosas. And Marys! And, well, cocktails and shots and wine, oh my!

You know what else we love? Beer! And there will be some of that later

Ohio Makers & Shakers Event

After our mimosas and a wee bit of conversation, the gals and I headed out to the event center at Cherry Valley Lodge for an Ohio Makers and Shakers shopping event that I’d found on Facebook. Do you guys do that? Find events on Facebook to attend? I use that feature all the time to find new and interesting things I’d otherwise not know about.

There wasn’t a ton of details listed, so we weren’t sure how many vendors were going to be there. The FB description claimed ‘dozens’ which could have meant anything from 24 to 72!

All we knew is that it was sponsored by The Window Guy & Co., Backwoods Fest and Ivory Barn, so we figured we’d give it a shot. And, the $2 admission seemed like quite the bargain – what else you getting for $2 bucks these days. Not a gallon of gas, let me tell ya! In my neck of the woods, it’s currently double that! Grrrr!!!

Anywho, the vendors were spaced out very nicely and you didn’t remotely feel like you were on top of one another while you were walking around. Of course, we got there early and it wasn’t very crowded at all.

I didn’t count, but my guess is there weren’t more than about 20 vendors there. It literally didn’t take us an hour to walk through. The other negative was there wasn’t a lot of product variety. For example, there were about 5 different vendors selling cups. They were all nice, certainly, but it would have been great to have a little more of a product mix. Of course, I did manage to find a few vendors to purchase from and one whose card I took for later.

Rock Woodworks – The gentleman from Rock Woodworks is a woodworker who creates stunning works of art such as cutting boards, serving boards and some home decor items. The magnificent craftsmanship is evident the moment you look and touch the products. These would make superb gift ideas and I’m keeping this in the back of my mind for the upcoming holidays. I LOVE being able to give one-of-a-kind gifts that CAN’T be bought at a big box store!

Mama Made Threads – About a year ago, the significant other impulsively bought a camper from a friend. Something straight outta the 70s. Seriously, the interior is currently covered in the orange and brown from that era. I feel like I should be wearing bell bottoms to even enter.

We’ve just starting working on the camper to get it ready to roll. It needs all sorts of stuff done – not just inside the camper. Under the hood, too! Of course, the interior is what I think about. I’ll leave the under the hood stuff to the beau

As I was roaming around the event, I spotted Mama Made Threads and all this adorable camping stuff. I walked away with a great t-shirt and cute towel for the camper. Of course, her stuff isn’t all about camping – that’s just what caught my eye. Be sure to give her a peek and see what you can find.

MS Aromatherapy – All four of us girls ended up purchasing wax melts that literally smelled aaah-may-zing! Heidi and I got Strawberry Guava, Christine got Fruity Loops (identical to the cereal, I tell ya) and Jules got Champagne Toast. Take a peek at what she has to offer – because everything smells fantastic!

Honestly, we all love supporting small business when we’re able. Do you guys support local?

According to the card I picked up when I walked in the door, there’s another event scheduled for December 3rd back out at the Event Center at Cherry Valley. Mark your calendars now for some shopping fun later on!

If you go, take a page out of our book and make a day of it by hitting some local breweries when the shopping day is done.

The Breweries

Trek

Trek was literally a few miles away from Cherry Valley, so we arrived there pretty early in the day. I think there were two other cars in the parking lot and, when we walked in, I think I saw one other table of folks having a few brews.

The gals and I took a seat in the bar area. Christine, Jules and I all ordered a Cream Ale, which would probably be considered the most similar to your average domestic beer. Think Budweiser, Coors and such. Heidi ordered a pale ale which had a few more sour notes than the ones we had.

She wasn’t a giant fan, but as she said, ‘There’s no wasting beer. I’ll drink it.” And so she did! Almost as good as the ‘there’s no crying in baseball’ line, no?

We were a tiny bit peckish so I ended up ordering a Tot appetizer, topped with cheese and bacon just to hold us over. It was a perfectly acceptable dish – nothing earth shattering, but it certainly filled the void in my tummy! We polished it off pretty quickly. We girls do know how to eat, after all

Stein Brewing Company

It took a little while for the GPS to get us here, not because it was far away, but there were a bunch of road closures and work going on in downtown Newark. We were confused, the GPS was confused, but eventually we made it. And I’m so very glad we did.

Stein is located in an older, industrial looking building that’s been repurposed! I LOVE it when that happens! We later learned they’ve only been open at this location for a few months, but they do have another spot in Mount Vernon that’s been around since 2017. I’m putting that one on our TO IT list, too

You know me, I had to indulge in some selfie love before heading inside.

We finally made our way in and the atmosphere was fabulous – lots of woods and metals – a very industrial feel. There was outdoor seating, as well, but we opted for the indoor experience.

The waitress popped over and explained the wall of beer we’d been eyeballing since the second we walked in the door! Yes, yes, you heard me…wall of beer.

Let me say it again! Louder this time!

WALL OF BEER!

I kid you not, there had to be over 30 taps lined up along a wall in the center of the restaurant. We were each handed a card to swipe for our brews. It was like your very own beer debit card! How frickin’ cool is that! Not a lush over here – I promise! I just like all things unique

The options were a full glass of any beer OR you could opt for a flight in order to sample different beers from the wall of beer (I love saying that). Basically, you just swiped your card and poured your brew.

OMG – it was kind of awesome if I’m being completely honest! I was a bit giddy! I love fun, interactive things

Heidi, Teeny and I all chose to go with the flight so we could get our hands on different beers. My absolute favorite was one called Orange Cream – it was literally like drinking an Orange Crush. Tasted nothing like beer! I ended up drinking my flight and going and getting a full glass of that delectable nectar.

I would go back to Stein just for that particular blend. Soooo good!

For lunch, Julie chose the meatloaf sandwich, Heidi and I split the buffalo chicken dip appetizer and nachos and Christine went for brussel sprouts and tenders. We were all pretty impressed with the food.

What was even better was that appetizers and the WALL OF BEER was 1/2 price. Happy Hour and all! My meal with a flight, glass of the Orange Dream, errr…Cream and the Buffalo Chicken Dip (I paid for one and Heidi took the other) was around $13 bucks. Really? If it wasn’t so far away, I’d make this a weekly stop!

I’m so sorry to say I don’t have too many decent pics from this point forward, because as I was snapping them, I proceeded to drop my phone directly into the buffalo chicken dip! Yes, yes, I did it!

Still SMH and rolling my eyes over here 3 days later!

I yanked it out quickly, but it was covered in that thick, gooey buffalo chicken dip. I rapidly began wiping everything off, but the dip had gotten everywhere. In every tiny little crevice of my poor phone! I tried snapping a few pics afterwards, but they were pretty blurry. Once we made it back to Christine’s place, I ended up having to immerse phone in rice, pop something out of the charging port and later that night, if FINALLY began charging and working correctly again.

I need a new phone anyway, so maybe I’ll put that on the list soon!

Overall, though, Stein was simply SUPERB and I think all of us would visit again if we were in the area. Or maybe even if we’re not! It’s that good

After our last ladie’s night out, it was good to have some great food this time around!

Dankhouse

After we left Stein, we popped by another one on our list, but we didn’t stay too long at all. It was starting to cool down pretty quickly and we weren’t really prepared for sitting outside.

Dankhouse was a really funky little place with artwork and graffiti all over the walls.

The best area was outside, where they had a large spot with a fire pit, cornhole games, lots of picnic tables and two food trucks that appeared to be permanent to the space.

Heidi and I had a quick little glass of beer before we all headed home. We didn’t hang out long, but this one could be a fun place to come hang out again when it’s warmer.

Although it was a pretty quiet and tame girls’ day, we had fun, enjoyed one aother’s company, made new memories and experienced new things. Isn’t that what life is all about?

Until next time, make plans with your friends and go experience all life has to offer. Remember that life is short and tomorrow isn’t promised!

The post Girls’ Day at the Breweries appeared first on Quite Simply Us.

And sure, I’ve got tons of other recipes for pulled pork that are done in the smoker, or even in the oven, but if I can save time and energy with the crockpot now and then, I’m totally all about that! Aren’t you? I’ve got a summer to enjoy

The key to this particular pork butt is the thick rub that’s slathered on before putting it in the crockpot. It’s all about that beautiful rub! When adding the liquid to the recipe, be really careful to pour it BESIDE the roast and not on top, or it will destroy that amazing rub.

Once the pork is fully cooked and shredded, I like to leave it plain on the cutting board and allow each family member to doctor theirs up the way they want it. My other half sometimes likes it atop a pile of mac and cheese and the kiddo nearly always wants it with BBQ sauce – sometimes on a sammy with slaw and sometimes not. I usually like mine in a pile on my plate and often just use the cooking juices drizzled atop mine.

Certainly, if your entire family is into BBQ, you could mix a whole bottle in after it’s shredded and it will be all ready to serve.

And, leaving it plain also allows for leftovers to be used in different ways. Need something to fill those tacos besides ground beef? Use the pork to whip up some quick carnitas using the leftovers. How about egg rolls? Substitute the pork in my Easy Weeknight Enchiladas. There’s always something to do with pulled pork – DON’T let it go to waste.

Hope you enjoy my Easy Crockpot Pulled Pork! Now, go do something fun – the crockpot is handling the rest

Crockpot Pulled Pork

Tasty and tender pulled pork made the easy way – in the crockpot. This pork butt will feed the whole family and then some!

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: bbq, pulled pork

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 hours hours

Total Time: 10 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 servings

Author: Lori Wallace-Roberts

Equipment

• 1 Crockpot

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp sea salt
• 1 white onion
• 1 can beef broth
• 1 5 lb. pork butt, bone in

Instructions

• Mix the chili powder, brown sugar, garlic powder, salt and cumin in a small bowl. Rub mixture over the pork roast, creating a thick crust.
• Place onions in bottom of crockpot and lay pork butt on top. Pour beef broth along side the pork butt, being careful not to pour directly overtop of the pork butt.
• Cover and cook on the low setting for 10-12 hours. Meat should just about be falling apart.
• Remove meat, shred and discard the fat.
• Serve as desired.

Notes

1. My preference is to shred the meat and leave it plain and allow everyone to doctor their own. 
   • Serve atop a big bowl of mac and cheese
   • Serve with any of your favorite BBQ sauces
   • Serve with the jus from the roast
2. If making sandwiches, consider topping with coleslaw.

Did you try this recipe? I’d love to see!Share a photo and mention @quitesimplyus or tag #quitesimplyus!

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If you’ve been following along, you probably know by now I have an obsession with easy weeknight meals. I mean, I love to cook, but who really wants to spend hours in the kitchen after a long day at work? Do you? I know I don’t! We’ve all got better things to do, right? So, I’m all about making quick work of the evening meal. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do with my Buffalo Chicken Sliders. Quick, easy and oh so very tasty!

I’ve been making variations of these sliders for many, many years and I’ll tell ya – they are ALL so tasty and perfect for feeding a hungry family. On most nights, there’s 3 of us at my house and these Buffalo Chicken Sliders go pretty quickly.

Who am I kidding? My boys devour these things! On occasion, we’ll have some left over. More often than not, they are simply gone

And why wouldn’t they be? What’s not to like here? Tasty deli meat with just the right amount of spicy kick, ooey, gooey Fontina cheese (that melts perfectly) and yummy Hawaiian rolls! And who can forget the ranch or blue cheese dressing slathered on those buns? Yummy!

Heaven on a bun! Seriously! Heaven on a bun!

What’s even better about these sliders (and all other sliders like them) is that they can be paired with homemade fries or pasta salad for a delectable weeknight meal that will knock their socks off. Or, they make superb appetizers for gatherings like tailgating. Heck, wrap them up and take them to your next picnic activity.

Truth is I’m a bit of a foodie and will try anything once. Pretty much. But on those busy weeknights, I don’t want to spend hours developing and creating an amazing, upscale dish. I want to be in and out of the kitchen in a flash! I’ve got stuff to do! Like blog

So, next time you’re looking for a simple recipe to feed the fam, be sure to give my Buffalo Chicken Sliders a try! And don’t forget to pop back and let me know how you like them!

Buffalo Chicken Sliders

Tasty buffalo chicken combines with Fontina cheese to create a tasty and filling meal perfect for a family dinner or appetizers at the next gathering.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Sandwiches

Cuisine: American

Keyword: sliders, sandwiches, chicken, buffalo chicken, appetizers, deli

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 servings

Author: Lori Wallace-Roberts

Ingredients

Sandwich

• 1 pkg Hawaiian Rolls
• 1 lb Buffalo Chicken Deli Meat, sliced thin (we like Boar's Head)
• 1/2 lb Fontina Cheese, sliced thin
• 1/2 cup Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing

Drizzle

• 4 tbsp butter, melted
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1½ tbsp poppy seeds
• 2 tsp Dijon Mustard

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Keeping Hawaiian rolls intact, slice the entire sheet in half and place the bottom half into a 9×13 baking dish. Bake for 3-5 minutes, or until just lightly toasted.
• Remove from oven and spread ranch/blue cheese dressing on bottom half of rolls.
• Place buffalo chicken evenly atop the Hawaiian rolls. We usually fold them or pile the slices. Then, lay cheese on top of chicken, again taking care to ensure everything is even.
• Place in oven for about 7 minutes just to get cheese melted.

Drizzle

• Whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, Dijon, Worcestershire & poppy seeds.
• Place top section of buns on top of sliders. Using a pastry brush, spread drizzle over top, being careful not to use to much and make them soggy.
• Bake for an additional 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Did you try this recipe? I’d love to see!Share a photo and mention @quitesimplyus or tag #quitesimplyus!

The post Buffalo Chicken Sliders appeared first on Quite Simply Us.

HISTORY

To listen to, errrr….read Google’s search results, you’d think that Congress recognized National Photography Month in 1987. However, a little further research indicates that simply isn’t the case.

Todd Vorenkamp over at B&H Photo & Video did some pretty extensive research into the National Photography Month assertion and basically found a House and Senate joint resolution from 1984 that proclaimed “National Photo Week” from May 7 – May 13, 1984. Nothing could be found regarding National Photography Month. Urban myth, apparently

More importantly, the true lesson here is in not taking everything you read on the internet as fact! M’kay!

OK, back to the non-existent National Photography Month! I say who cares. Perhaps we call it something different, but I believe it’s a perfect opportunity to think about pictures, photography and why they are all so important to each and every one of us.

THE FIRST PHOTO

Inventor Joseph Nicephore Niepce is credited with the below image, believed to be the first photo ever taken, circa 1825-1827. The image is of the French countryside and was created when a thin coating of bitumen was placed on a pewter plate. The plate was then placed in a camera obscura and set on a windowsill for an 8-hour exposure.

It’s quite amazing to reflect on how far we’ve come, isn’t it?

WHY DO PICTURES MATTER?

Let’s think for a minute about the importance of photography in our society. Not only are photographs essential artistic expressions of the world around us, they are also a vital journalistic record of life, as it’s happening. Singular magnificent moments in time, recorded for reflection. For posterity.

Photographs as Art

Walk into any gallery or look at a magazine cover and you’ll see displays of breathtaking photographs, creative interpretations of whatever subject captured the imagination and interest of the photographer. Just like artists who operate in other mediums like canvas or clay, photographers bring their vision and their subject to life – on film.

Every photograph is meant to make us think and challenge our perceptions about ourselves, others and the world around us. Imagine, all of that from one little picture.

Through the years, there have been some really amazing and notable photographers. Think about true visionaries such as Ansel Adams, Annie Leibovitz, Richard Avedon, Robert Mapplethorpe and Anne Geddes. All photographers whose impact on the world of photography is still, to this day, being felt.

From the amazing and well known landscapes of Ansel Adams to the celebrity and fashion photos of Annie Liebovitz and Richard Avedon, their photos always touch an emotion within each of us.

Think about Robert Mapplethorpe, who had a storied career, photographing everything from still life to nudes, but is most remembered for his exceptionally controversial and explicit BDSM photos.

And then, think about Anne Geddes and the whimsical stories she tells. Further, think about newborn photography as it exists today and ask yourself if Anne Geddes didn’t play a part in how all photographers are taking pictures of littles these days.

Photographs as News

Now, think about some of the most iconic photographs you’ve ever seen. Maybe they were, indeed, taken by a working photojournalist – one who happened to get an amazing shot, capturing an extraordinary moment in time. Maybe they weren’t taken by a famous shutterbug at all. Perhaps it was an everyday person like you and I, who happened to be in the right place and the right time, with a camera in tow.

Do you recognize some of these photos? I bet you’re familiar with nearly all of them. Why? Because they’ve been plastered across our collective conscious for years. From seeing them in magazines, in school books or on the TV screen, these iconic images aren’t just a mere memory still of the moment they were taken – they’re a part of our stories now too.

Every photo below, with the exception of one, was taken before I was born! Not only am I familiar with every single picture, I know the story behind them, as well. Each and every one of these photographs is a living legacy, defining a singular moment and sharing it with generations.

It’s funny, because as a writer, I like to think that words are needed, but the fact is, with the right picture, not a single word is needed to tell any of these stories. Some may excite you and bring you joy. Others may make you shake with rage. But that’s what a photo is meant to do – capture a moment in time and tell the story.

The First Cell Phone Picture

Thinking about it now, it’s hard to believe that there was life before cell phones. Right? How many of you remember back that far?

In 1997, some 25 years ago, Philippe Kahn is credited with the first cell phone picture of his baby daughter. Although Kahn was a software guru, his initial invention was very rudimentary – he connected a digital camera to his flip phone, wrote some code to tie them together and was able to snap a photo and send it to around 2,000 people.

He continued to improve his technology and it was eventually used by Sharp in the first cell phone with camera ever released commercially.

Along with his little girl, the cell phone selfie was unwittingly born

Life in Pictures

Every one of us uses photos to document the story of our lives, capturing important and life-altering moments as well as normal, mundane ones. And, throughout our lives, we look back on those moments to remember our stories. To share our stories.

With every blog post I write and share, I’m telling you the story of my friendship with the gals. I’m sharing the adventures of our girls days like derby day or Friendsgiving or the wine trail. I’m writing the story and sharing it in pictures, too.

And what’s even better, is that those of us with no discernable artistic talent whatsoever can pick up a camera and manage to snap some amazing shots now and then. I certainly can’t pick up a paintbrush and create a work of art, but I can pick up a camera and get some pretty good shots now and then.

And so can you!

LET’S CELEBRATE

So, in honor of it’s not National Photography Month after all, I’m leaving you with a few ideas to kick your inner shutterbug into gear

• Picture Challenge – Download my 30-day picture challenge, perfect for the upcoming summer.
• Photography Exhibit – Go get your culture on and visit a photography exhibit. Nothing nearby? Museums often have roaming exhibits or specific areas devoted specifically to the artistry of photography.
• Take a Class – Anxious to learn more about shutter speed, exposure or ISO, find yourself a nearby class. If you can’t find an in-person one, tons of classes are offered online these days.
• Create a Photo Book – Gone are the days of printing all those pics and cramming them into a sticky album. Instead, download your favorite photo app, select your pics and create a photo book of a fun event, trip or story in your life.
• Buy a New Camera – Treat yourself to a new camera or lens. My son gifted me with an amazing new Canon and a few lenses a couple of years back! Of course, I’m still figuring things out about how to use all of the features, but it’s so amazing to learn and be able to take pictures with something besides the cell phone.

Photography has no doubt changed over the years, but the one thing that hasn’t changed is that from the oldest of us to the youngest, using old school cameras, brand new digital ones, tablets or phones, taking a photo is something we can all enjoy.

A photo is something that can bring us together decades later, looking, laughing and asking, “Do you remember when?”

Maybe your memory is as fresh as every. Maybe it’s starting to fade. But, isn’t that what those pictures are for, after all?

Keeping those memories alive!

The post National Photography Month appeared first on Quite Simply Us.

With the Kentucky Derby 2022 being just a day away, I thought it would be the perfect time to toss it back to Kentucky Derby Day with the Girls, circa 2017. Yep – I’m tossing it WAY on back – 5 years ago, to be exact! To this day, this is ONE of my all-time favorite girls’ day events ever.

Why? Well, let’s see!

• Dressing up in our finest frocks befitting of the Kentucky Derby
• Hats (need I say more)
• Besties
• Presents
• Food
• Alcohol

So, if you’re interested in putting together your very own Kentucky Derby celebration, ours went something like this.

Pre-Kentucky Derby Day Picture Time

If you’ve been following along with the girls and I, you know I have an affinity, errrr…slight obsession with snapping pictures of our events. I’m just a big believer in documenting the memories you share with your people.

I see a lot of folks take pictures of things and places (nothing wrong with that), but they’re never in ANY of those pics. That doesn’t work, does it? You have to make sure you’re in at least some of the shots you get of the amazing places you go. Okay? Don’t just be a spectator – be a participant, too

So, get yourself gussied up whether you’re going out or staying at home so you’ll be celebrating the Derby in true Kentucky Derby style. Take lots of pics so you’ll always have those memories to look back on. Trust me, the older you get, the quicker that memory fades Eeek!!!

Derby Day Birthday Celebration

Before we headed out for the Kentucky Derby, we celebrated Heidi’s birthday with a few gifts from her girlfriends.

I picked up a beautiful glass bird bath with Heidi’s favorite thing in the world on it – her beloved flip flops. As a reminder, this girl will wear the flops all winter long unless you tell her to stop – she loves them THAT much. Seriously!!

I don’t think she ever actually USED it as a bird bath; instead it’s been used as table decor during the summer months. I’ve also seen it on adorning her counter. Heck, I think I’ve seen it filled with snacks, too. You just never know where that thing might make an appearance.

She also received some sort of liquor and new bras (I’m not sharing THAT shot) and lots of other fun goodies.

The girls and I always take the time to celebrate each other on our special day. After all, the older we get, the less of those days we’re going to have. I mean, the great heart attack of 22′ almost ensured that I had my last one in 2021!

Barrel & Boar

The Kentucky Derby event at Barrel & Boar was nothing too fancy, but just fabulous enough for us! Heck, 5 years ago when this all went down, their only location was in Gahanna, OH, which worked out great for us. Nowadays, they have other locations in Westerville and Newark.

We ate and drank and watched the derby! Some of you may be wondering if you have to be a BIG racing fan to enjoy the Derby. That’s an unequivocol no from us gals – who are definitely not into the entire racing deal. Basically, we peeked up long enough to watch the main event and see who crossed the line 1st! For your reference, it was Always Dreaming, and yes, I looked that up

What? Like I’m going to remember that!

It’s truly difficult to believe our Kentucky Derby day with the girls was 5 years ago. What’s even crazier is thinking about the 60 or so girls’ days that have come since.

There’s been the wine trail and apple picking and Friendsgiving and so many more. Since we each plan 3 a year, the activities always vary, which makes it so interesting, often unexpected and truly fun.

So, go ahead and get your own girls’ day on the books. Plan something big or plan something small. It doesn’t matter. All that really matters is the time you spend with one another. As you know, life is short and tomorrow isn’t promised!

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