The V Spot

In case you missed it: Weekly Wrap-Up

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Sat, 25 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

It's been a pretty busy week around here, and we've been anticipating our Memorial Weekend camping trip with friends this weekend. Here's what has been happening around the blog.

Sunday Rewind: It's been a year and I am still loving this easy "spooning" artwork.
Monday: I got HH some gourmet goodies at World Market for Father's Day.
Tuesday: Blogs (and bloggers) that I highly recommend. A SNAP Conference wrap-up.

Wednesday: I have a great short-cut for making cream based pasta sauces.
Thursday: I am LOVING how this coastal inspired globe make-over turned out!
Friday: Getting ready to go camping and choosing recipes from one of my favorite food blogs, Rook No 17.

Hope you're having a fabulous holiday weekend. And a heartfelt Thank You! to all who serve and to their families.

Going camping and choosing recipes from Rook No 17.

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

I'm super excited to be going camping for Memorial Weekend. It is not our big annual camping trip (that's in a few weeks) but this one is up to our local mountains. Two hours from our door-step, it's going to be a great little getaway.

We'll be bringing our washing-machine-turned-fire-pit...

...and will probably be making Banana Boats

I usually make chili and freeze it in baggies so that it serves as ice blocks in the cooler on the way to the campsites.

We won't be bringing up chili for this trip, but I have to tell you, I have been hanging around on my talented friend Jenn's blog, Rook No. 17 and checking out inspiration for yummy camping, grilling and all around fabulous recipes for any occasion. I am going to be making her Thai Pesto with Cold Noodles as a make-ahead side dish for Saturday night. (I've made it before, it's delish!)

Like I said, I was poking around and drooling. Jenn is an amazing cook. Amazing. Check out all of her recipes HERE. Her desserts are delicious and gorgeous. I'm drooling over these camping inspired desserts:

How about some S'Mores Truffles on a Stick?

Indoor S'Mores on a Stick? Yes, please!

S'Mores Bars

So many delicious things on Jenn's site, I highly recommend that you check it out if you haven't yet. By the way, I can personally attest to not only how amazing her Thai Pesto and Cold Noodles are, but I have also made her Lemon Meringue Pie Fudge, her Pistachio Blue Cheese Grapes, and we will be trying the Savory Cheese S'Mores this weekend.

What are you doing Memorial Weekend? And what will you be eating...?

about Vivienne Wagner

An old globe gets a coastal inspired make-over. (Using paper napkins and Mod Podge.)

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:23:00 +0000

Last week I took an old globe that I have made over several times and gave it a beachy-blue ombre paint job. Today I wanted to show you that same globe with a coastal inspired make-over. The materials needed for this project? Paper napkins, Mod Podge and a little paint.

A few months ago I picked up what I thought were rather expensive paper napkins at Roger's Gardens. (I tend to buy my napkins at the Dollar Store, so $5 for a pack of 20 seemed kind of pricey to me.) However, I've now used them to make brunch invitations, candle holders, and now this globe make-over, so I am thinking they were a pretty good deal!

Start by spraying your globe with a white primer. You want to make sure it's a solid color or the globe's markings will show through underneath the napkins. In this particular instance I gave it a light coating of Rust-Oleum's Heirloom White as well, so that it was closer to the cream color of the napkins.

(NOTE: Make sure you have just one ply of the napkin. If you don't, it will wrinkle up too much.)

The napkins I used were 3-ply and had a colored trim around them, so I started by cutting that off, then I pulled off the printed ply of the napkin. Cut it into strips about an inch wide and line them up in order so you can keep track of the pattern. You can use scissors, but I though it was more efficacious to use my paper cutter. If you don't have one, don't worry, scissors are just fine.

Brush a light coat of Mod Podge onto the globe where you want the strip of napkin to go and gently press it onto the globe. I used Sparkle Mod Podge, but you can use any kind that you'd like. Line up the patterns as you add the strips of napkins.

This was a bit of a challenge for me. I started by using a longitude line on the globe as my guideline. For the ombre globe, the latitude lines were helpful for creating the gradations of color. For this project, it gave me an angular coverage and I found myself having to do a weird patchwork to finish up the coverage. So yes, there is a "good side" on this globe, but the pattern is a forgiving one, so the spots where things don't quite line up isn't that big of a deal. Just keepin' it real.

Once the Mod Podge had dried, I mixed a little bit of Martha Stewart's Habanero with a larger amount of Carrot until I got a color that I liked. Paint it on, let it dry, then enjoy your new coastal inspired globe for the summer.

I'm pretty happy with how it turned out! I am loving these napkin crafts.

Brunch Invitations and DIY Glass Votive Candle Holders

You can check out all the changes this hard-working globe has gone through by clicking here:

Scary Places Chalkboard Globe

Halloween Ribbon Globe

Valentine's Day Globe

Beachy-Blue Ombre Globe

Do you have an item that gets frequent make-overs? What is it?

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

about Vivienne Wagner

An easy recipe for cream-based pasta sauce (using store-bought cheese spread.)

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

Pasta: It's easy, filling and great comfort food. It can get pretty boring though, if the only time you are eating it is with some type of red sauce. Particularly if it's just jarred sauce.... not that there's anything wrong with that.
Yes, I am Italian, and yes, I take short-cuts in the kitchen all the time. Today I'm going to share one of my favorite short-cuts for cream-based sauces.

These cream based dishes are easy to whip up and you can use whatever you happen to have on hand... as long as you have milk or cream and this:

I use Boursin cheese a lot and also use Alouette cheese as well, but any type of spreadable cheese that you might eat with crackers will work. I like the kind that have garlic and herbs, or roasted red peppers, or in this case, Sundried Tomato & Basil.

Here's the basic recipe:
3 Tbsp butter
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
pinch of nutmeg
2 Tbsp flour
2 cups of milk or cream
1 6 to 8oz package of spreadable cheese
1 to 2 cups chicken broth

Melt butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet and saute onion and garlic until soft. Add nutmeg and flour, stirring together to create a roux. Lower the heat to medium-low and alternate adding milk/cream and cheese spread until it is all incorporated.

Let simmer for a few minutes, then add chicken broth in small amounts, until reaching your desired consistency. Don't rush it... you can always add a bit more, you can't take it back out again. Once you have the base sauce, you can add whatever else you like.

Once my sauce was simmering nicely, I added chopped, cooked chicken (about 2 cups), chopped bacon (1 pound), sauteed mushrooms (8 oz, sliced), a pinch of red pepper flakes and halved grape tomatoes just before serving. It looked a little thick, so I added a bit more of the chicken broth until it was just right.

Serve over penne (or your favorite) pasta and top with a little fresh basil and Parmesan cheese. Yum! Mangia!

Do you have any short-cuts you like to use in the kitchen?

about Vivienne Wagner

SNAP Conference Wrap-Up: Blogs you should be reading.

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

So last month I attended the SNAP Conference just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. It is a conference for creative bloggers, and let me tell you, it is a big deal for us... lots of fun, lots to learn, lots of blogging related stuff. The fabulous Duck Brand was kind enough to sponsor my trip, and I will have some Duck Tape related projects to share with you very soon!

The way I figure it, most of you are NOT bloggers. You might enjoy reading creative blogs, but you certainly are not interested in seeing how the sausage is made. With that in mind, I wanted to share some blogs that I think are great reads and introduce you to some of the new blogs that I am reading as a result of meeting the women behind them.

Starting with my roommates and the amazing women I hung out with in our "Wine Wing" of the hotel after hours. Jennifer from Always In Wonder, Heidi from Honeybear Lane and I had an adjoining room with Bev from Flamingo Toes (my SoCal Social co-founder), Kara at Mine For the Making and Michele from The Scrap Shoppe

And we spent so much time with Carolina from Always Expect Moore and 30 Minute Crafts that it felt like she was a roommate. (That was a good thing!) Each one of these women is amazingly creative and talented. Most of them have sewing tutorials and will walk you through how to make some incredible jewelry pieces as well. (Bev is particularly brilliant when it comes to the jewelry making...) Both Heidi and Carolina make gorgeous quilts too.

I mentioned our "Wine Wing" of the hotel, and that is where we got to meet and get to know some of these incredible women a little bit better...

Shannon from Madigan Made, Diane from In My Own Style, Sarah from Thrifty Decor Chick and Traci from Beneath My Heart have been favorite reads of mine for a long time and I was so happy to get to spend some time with them. I also got to hang out with and be inspired by these women, who will give you recipes, creative ideas and tutorials on how to do awesome things:
Deneen at Dreaming In Color
Stef from Girl. Inspired.
Melissa from Number 2 Pencil
Allison from A Glimpse Inside
Amy from Positively Splendid
Laura from The Shed
Kristin from Yellow Bliss Road
Carissa from Creative Green Living
Sarah from Craft Quickies
Courtney from Sweet C's Designs (She's kinda wild. Loved her!)
Heather from The Sewing Loft
Kelly from Nest of Posies
Maegan from SAHMaegan
Johnnie from Saved By Love Creations
Amy from Plucking Daisies
Allison from House of Hepworths
Jamie from C.R.A.F.T.

There's also Kami from No Biggie who is one of the sweetest people you could hope to meet, Karen, The Graphics Fairy who will give you all sorts of cool, FREE images to play with whenever you want them, and wonderful, creative peeps like Amy at The Idea Room, Desiree from The 36th Avenue, Jen from Tatertots and Jello.

Hungry? Ashlee from I'm Topsy Turvy and Heather from Whipperberry are the cake whisperers. Want dessert? Or anything else good to eat? Check them out. (They do lots of creative things... not just food.) Also be sure to visit Jamielyn from I Heart Naptime, Laura from Pink Cake Plate and Kendra from My Insanity for more fabulous food and party ideas.

Stacy from Not Just A Housewife, Sandra from Sawdust Girl and Brittany from Pretty Handy Girl will teach you how to handle a DIY project like nobody's business and Lindsey from Better After showcases the best of the best before-and-afters!

And just in general, all around can do a bit of everything genius bloggers...?
Marrisa from Rae Gun Ramblings
Katie from Sweet Rose Studio
Natalie from A Turtle's Life For Me
Barbara from Chase the Star
Megan from Brassy Apple (If you need a little fashion inspiration, Megan's your girl!)
Crystal from A Pumpkin and A Princess
Jenn from Four Mars One Venus
Suzy from Suzy's Sitcom
Taryn from Design, Dining & Diapers (I am just drawn to images from her blog!)
Becky from Organizing Made Fun
Michell from Girl In Air
and finally, Lucy from Craftberry Bush. The SNAP Conference is so big that I didn't even know that she was there, or I would have absolutely jumped on her and wigged out to meet her. This woman is amazing and does the most beautiful projects!

To read SNAP Conference wrap-ups from other bloggers, you can click HERE.

about Vivienne Wagner

World Market: a great source for gourmet foods and some cool gifts for dad.

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of World Market for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
Handsome Hubby is a wonderful father. I am so lucky to parent with him and our boys are soooo lucky that they have him at the helm. (Even if they don't always realize it at the time.) With all of the things HH does, it's nice to be able to just sit and relax, and sometimes (OK, often) means without the kids. HH and I play games together all the time and have appetizers for dinner while we do it.

I thought it would be nice to try out some new snacks and goodies, so I headed over to World Market because they have such a great selection of unique food and drink. (And all sorts of household items, decor, jewelry, etc.) I could easily spend hours in there just checking everything out, but this trip I headed straight to the food section.

There are tons of unique and delicious items to choose from. I ended up picking up several yummies.

I poured some wine, got a double deck of cards so we could play one of our favorite games (Tic) and put out three different dipping oils, some gourmet salami and cheeses, a delish aritichoke pesto, some flatbread crackers and a little fruit. It's an easy, casual way for dad to relax.
With Father's Day just around the corner, you might want to hit your local World Market and check out all of the great Father’s Day Gifts that they have to choose from. Additionally, you should check out the World Market Facebook page. They are having a sweepstakes where you could win a $1,000 gift card for you AND one for your dad!

Nominate your Dad here.
Pretty cool right? At any rate, no matter how you will be celebrating dad, chances are that you'll find just the right thing at World Market.
(And by the way? I won the card game. heh heh. )

Sunday Rewind: "Spooning" artwork.

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Sun, 19 May 2013 19:05:00 +0000

I loved this DIY artwork project about spooning! This makes a great wedding or anniversary gift and is super easy to make.

Click HERE to see the easy tutorial.
Happy Memorial Day!

about Vivienne Wagner

An easy ombre globe.

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

I love this little globe I picked up at a yard sale a few years ago. I have transformed it a couple of times over. It's had two Halloween make-overs and been repainted for Valentine's Day. I have another project coming up, but in the meantime, I got a wild hair and decided to do a quick ombre treatment.

It's pretty fun, right? I like that it's kind of beachy and that I can just paint over it and make it something else.

I started out by painting over the heart and text from the Valentine's Day globe. I just used a basic spray primer and grabbed 4 graduated shades of blue acrylic paint. Fortunately, globes come with latitude lines. These make great guidelines for painting the stripes of color. I started in the middle (um, at the equator) and then worked my way out from there, blending the colors as I went along. Not. Rocket. Science.

Easy, fun and best of all, can be painted over the very second I get bored with it.

Scary Places Globe Ribbon Globe Valentine's Day Globe

Do you have a globe...? Whatcha gonna do with it?

about Vivienne Wagner

Some quick and easy Patriotic Projects. Just in time for Memorial Weekend.

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:47:00 +0000

As we are gearing up for Memorial Weekend (and current projects that I have in the works are not finished) I thought I'd share a couple of my previous Patriotic Projects. Each one is a tutorial, just follow the link.

Land of the Free Because of the Brave artwork tutorial

Old Glory Spray Paint Artwork

Upcycled Patriotic Jars

Oh, and if you're planning a simple BBQ, here are 3 great recipes for revving up a plain hot dog.

Three fresh ideas to top off your hot dogs.

What are your plans for Memorial Day Weekend? We're going camping!

about Vivienne Wagner

Mother's Day Brunch Wrap Up 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:30:00 +0000

We had our annual Mother's Day Brunch on Sunday. I did not get too wild and crazy with the decor... nothing hanging from the ceiling... just a simple, coastal theme and color palette.

It all started out with these paper napkins that I turned into invitations. That was the jumping off point for everything.

The coastal tablescape was super easy to do. A turquoise blue urn filled with white hydrangeas, fountain grass and my DIY faux red coral. I also took a potted succulent, wrapped it with rope and stuck that in there too. Add some shells and starfish, and you have a pretty easy centerpiece. The "table runner" it's all sitting on? Simple roll up blinds. I pulled off the hardware mechanisms and laid two of them end to end. Easy, and at $3 a blind (picked up at a garage sale) super affordable!

I used my Mother's Day Typography Artwork to set up a little bar area for Bloody Marys, champagne and Mimosas. (And sparkling juice for our younger peeps.)

I like to be able to do a lot of the fun stuff, a little bit of prep for cooking, but then Handsome Hubby takes over everything else the day of the brunch. Well. Almost everything.

I can't help it.

We make our baked eggs in a polenta crust, make ahead stuffed French Toast, and HH makes chicken fried steak with homemade country gravy.

We set up a buffet line then we all eat out on the patio. This year, Conner expressed love for his momma by pointing out that one of the green onions on his baked egg in the polenta crust was in the shape of a heart.

He is such a cheese ball sometimes!
They had me in stitches with their homemade cards and a "poster" they made for me, which took a page from their dad's playbook, mimicking his framed artwork and mat filled with inside jokes and memories.

Grant drew me a family portrait, and one of my favorite sayings on the poster was "one man's trash is another mom's project..."

Mitch was with his mom for Mother's Day, and he got me a lovely charm bracelet with peace/Beatles themed charms when he came back to our house on Monday.

It was a great day, and I love spending time with family and friends.

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!
Click here to check out Mother's Day Brunch around here in 2012, 2011 and 2010 and a big round up of fabulous brunch recipes here.

about Vivienne Wagner

Sunday Rewind: A Hanging Photo Centerpiece

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Sun, 12 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Happy Sunday and Happy Mother's Day!
Today for Sunday Rewind I wanted to share the centerpiece I created for last year's Mother's Day Brunch. This could work for all kinds of different occasions.

Click here for the full tutorial on how to make this.

about Vivienne Wagner

In case you missed it: Weekly Wrap-Up

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Sat, 11 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Hello everyone! Hope you had a great week and are enjoying your weekend! Here's what happened around the blog this week.

Sunday Rewind: A trip to the Orange County Swap Meet. (Fabulous people watching!)
Monday: Easy DIY candle holders made from jars and paper napkins.
Tuesday: MommyJuice. A silly name... a serious wine.

Wednesday: Yummy, one minute appetizer: Goat Cheese & Marinara
Thursday: An easy method to "antique" distressed art pieces.
Friday: Making faux red "coral" from sticks and paint.

Hope you have a fabulous weekend, and Happy Mother's Day to the moms out there.

about Vivienne Wagner

Faux Red Coral made from sticks & spray paint.

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

Summer is coming and the seasonal tide of coastal decor is starting to pull at me. I have previously made faux starfish and red and white coral out of salt dough, and today I am going to show you another super easy way to make a faux red coral. Want the secret ingredient? Sticks.

You know I loves me some sticks and spray paint projects! This involves both.

Gather a bunch of sticks that are sort of bendy and gnarled, then spray paint them with red paint. You're painting sticks... it's fine to use the el-cheap-o spray paint on this project. Next, grab some red and orange acrylic paint (I like Martha's) use 1 part red to 3 parts orange and then add a little water to thin it out.

Paint/drip the coral colored paint wash all over the sticks. I find it easiest to spray paint them flat, then flip them over and do the other side, but to hold them while applying the paint wash. It doesn't have to be perfectly even coverage.

Here is an example of real red coral. It's had a shiny gloss applied to it, but the shape looks pretty similar to sticks and branches, don't you think?

source

Now for this, I certainly could make this nice and glossy, but I decided to leave it as is and will incorporate my faux "coral" into my Mother's Day Brunch decor. Remember my invitations and candle holders using the paper napkins? This is a continuation of that color scheme.

I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, and I especially like the price. Which is, you know, free. What do you think? Do you use coastal elements in your home?

By the way, I have a great round up of more than 40 Brunch Recipes from some fabulous cooks and bloggers. It's not too late to put together a great breakfast treat for Mom.

Check it out for Mother's Day, but there are some wonderful recipes in there that would be great for bridal and baby showers too.

about Vivienne Wagner

Easy antique wash for distressed artwork.

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

I make "subway" or typographic artwork on a fairly regular basis. I am not too precise about the process, which is why I love the, um, distressed look. Distressing artwork that is less than perfect covers a multitude of sins and makes it a "I meant to do that" finished product.

Here are a few examples of pieces that I have done previously.

1. Springtime 2. Hello Sunshine 3. Vintage Lake Sign 4. Thankful 5. Wine Corks

6. Never More 7. True Love 8. Family Rules
Click any of these for instructions or tutorials on how to create the piece in the first place.

On virtually all of these pieces, I sand them and put a quick and easy "antique" wash that cuts down on the contrast while adding a soft sheen. And when I say easy, I mean easy.

I just did this piece for a fundraiser. See how I managed to get "love each other" kind of crooked? (Other is going up at a bit of an angle.) And the paint bled through here and there on the letters.... Lots of little things that are wrong. That's where sanding the crap out of the piece comes in.

Once it looks distressed and vintage-y enough from the sander, it's time to do the wash. The wash is nothing more than a little watered down gold acrylic paint.

Don't be jealous of my fabulous paintbrush. It may not be pretty, but it gets the job done. We're old friends.

Apply the wash over the surface of the piece with a paintbrush. Once it's covered with the wash, get a different, dry paintbrush (preferably a wide one) brush over the surface of the entire board with long, even strokes in one direction. (I usually do them horizontally.)

Anyhow, when it's dry the piece looks worn and vintage instead of contrast-y and uneven.

So that's it. No big secret, (other than I'm not really an artist.)
A sander and paint wash save the day!

about Vivienne Wagner

Easy Goat Cheese & Marinara Appetizer

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

This appetizer is so yummy and easy! Creamy goat cheese and savory marina make a wonderful spread on fresh bread. It literally takes but a minute to put together.

In fact, this is so yummy and easy that I there is no real "process" to photograph for you.

Pop a cup or so of jarred marinara sauce in the microwave for 45 seconds or so. While it's heating up, place the goat cheese in the middle of a deep dish or platter. Spoon warm marinara sauce over the top of the cheese. Serve with fresh, crusty bread or crostini.

And they all lived happily ever after.
The end.

Do you have a favorite "go-to" appetizer?
about Vivienne Wagner

MommyJuice Wine: A fun name... serious wine.

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:32:00 +0000

Wine. I love it. Virginia Madsen's monologue about wine in Sideways? Yep. It's how I feel about wine. It's important. It helps me unwind at the end of the day, I enjoy learning more about it and trying different varieties. So when I was offered the opportunity to try wines from MommyJuice, I couldn't say "yes" fast enough!

Now I might be a wineaux, but I am not a wine snob. There may be some people out there who wouldn't take a wine by the name of "MommyJuice" too seriously, but I read the tasting notes for the Chardonnay and the Red Blend that I received, as well as the story behind the wine and its name... fun name, serious wine.

First of all, I love the fact that the founder of MommyJuice is a mom and it's named after her children's references to her glass of wine as "Mommy's juice." But second, and most important, her family is in the wine business and she knows her stuff. Her family's Central Coast winery is in a fabulous area, known for producing great wines. She has tons of experience and sits on several wine industry boards. The idiom Don't judge a book by its cover definitely fits in here.

I invited a few girlfriends who are fellow wine enthusiasts over for the evening and we had a tasting. We started off with the Chardonnay.

To be completely honest, I was prepared to not like this wine. I do drink Chardonnay but I tend to like it buttery and oaky. Very oaky, actually. I read the tasting notes and I was anticipating something that would be too fruit forward and sweet for my tastes. I was very pleasantly surprised.

While this Chardonnay did not have the big oaky finish I look for, it was very well balanced. There were four of us tasting the wines (and three of us who primarily drink reds) and all four of us really liked this. By the way, these grapes were all grown in Monterey, California, an area well known for its Chardonnay.

We moved on to the Red Wine Blend (77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 3% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot)

This red blend was nice. It does need to breathe though... even with an aerator, it still needed a minute or two. It was really nice when paired with some dark chocolate. While we all liked the red, we decided that the Chardonnay was the winner.

Having a tasting is a great way to hang out with friends.

I put out a few appetizers and snacks, made sure there was lots of water available, and just enjoyed good wine and good conversation. (Click here to see how I made the etched water carafes from old wine bottles.)

One other thing: screw top! What was once a sign of an inferior, cheap-o wine is now becoming
the bottle closures of choice for a lot of vintners. One of the chemicals used to sanitize natural cork can sometimes lead to a bottle becoming "corked" which means a flat, musty smell and taste. Basically, if your bottle of wine is "corked" it is worthless. A screw top is less expensive for the winery and means a better preserved wine. I give you this little cork explanation because it would be a shame to pass up a bottle of MommyJuice on the shelf because you made a snap judgement about a fun label and a screw top. This. Is. Nice. Wine.

By the way, you know who sells it? CVS Pharmacy. I didn't know they even sold wine! (How did I not know this?!)

Look how affordable this is!

MommyJuice Wines are available at select CVS Pharmacy stores and Northern California Target stores, as well as in various retail outlets nationwide.

And since Mother's Day is right around the corner... Wine and Mother’s Day gift packs can be purchased online at www.mommyjuicewines.com. If you are at CVS and snap photos of MommyJuice on the shelf, you can upload them to the MommyJuice Facebook Page and be entered to win a pack of MommyJuice glasses.

Being a mom is a constant juggling act. MommyJuice is a an adorable gift for any hostess, friend or family member who is a mother. It’s owned and made by a mom.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

about Vivienne Wagner

DIY Sea-Inspired Candle Holders (Made from glass jars & paper napkins.)

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

A few weeks ago I bought some cool paper napkins on a trip to Roger's Gardens in Newport Beach, CA. I used them to make invitations to our Mother's Day Brunch, and in keeping with that theme and color palette, I decided to make some jar candle holders using the same napkins and Mod Podge.

I am really happy with how they turned out, and they took just minutes to do. (Not including drying time for the Mod Podge.)

Gather up your supplies. You'll need:

clean glass jars
Mod Podge (I used Sparkle, but you can use any kind you want.)
paper napkins with a fun print of your choosing
paint brush
twine or jute

Take the napkin and peel the layers apart. I thought these were 2 ply at first, and turns out they were actually 3 ply. The thinner the paper, the more translucent your finished product will be. Cut the napkin into strips that are a little wider than what will fit your jar, so that you can wrap the paper underneath it. Coat the jar with Mod Podge and adhere the paper to the jar.

Be gentle, as the paper is so thin. You don't want it to tear. When dry, put an additional coat of Mod Podge over it and let dry.

To finish off your votive holder, tie an end of twine around the neck of your jar, brush on a little Mod Podge to help "set" the twine, and wrap neck of the jar until it's completely covered.

Add a candle and enjoy!

I'm really happy with how these turned out! I did some "Hurricane" sized ones for Halloween a few years ago, but I think I like this smaller size much better.

By the way, the starfish in the photos above? I made them out of dough. Super easy to make.

Have you done any crafting with paper napkins before? What did you do?

about Vivienne Wagner

Sunday Rewind: The Orange County Swap Meet

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Sun, 05 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Today's Sunday Rewind takes us on a field trip to the Orange County Swap Meet. I love the swap meet! There is so much to check out: fabulous furniture, fresh produce, nick-knacks, luggage, clothes....
Oh. And lots and lots of people watching!

Click here to see it all.

about Vivienne Wagner

In case you missed it: Weekly Wrap-Up

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Sat, 04 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Sunday Rewind: Being a "mean mom" and making sure to hold kids accountable for their bad choices.
Monday: Making easy invitations for Mother's Day Brunch out of paper napkins.
Tuesday: Product review: Why I am loving Lysol Power & Free.

Wednesday: Shocker, I know, but I finally got around to a furniture make-over.
Thursday: I have a great round up of more than 40 fabulous Brunch Recipes.
Friday: HH and I had a date night at the Chris Tomlin concert.

Hope you're having a great weekend!
about Vivienne Wagner

Date night at the Chris Tomlin concert.

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

I like all kinds of music. If the tune is catchy... if it's got a good beat and you can dance to it... if it makes you feel something... chances are that I like it. One of the artists I particularly like is Chris Tomlin, a Christian singer whose songs are often covered by our worship team at church.

A few weeks ago I drove past the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater and saw that he was scheduled to play last Saturday night. I had a Yay! Boo! moment. Yay! I love Chris Tomlin! Boo! I know me, and I probably will forget about this by the time I get home, or the tickets will be sold out, or we are already doing something else, or oo! a squirrel!

source

Anyway, I forgot all about it until I got an email from a friend, asking if I knew anyone who would be interested in attending the concert. Um, yeah! Me! (A great singer and date-night!? Score!)

Handsome Hubby and I have been feeling especially blessed and grateful lately. Not just because of the miracle that Mitch is alive and almost fully recovered from his accident, but also because of the amazing and positive ripple effects that have been coming from the entire experience.
We have felt more and more like God totally has His hand on our lives, so this was a really great way to spend a Saturday night.

From my Instagram feed the night of the concert.

We went out to dinner, got a lovely plastic cup of wine in the concession area, and found our seats.
We had a great view of the stage and it was a very energetic, very moving show.

I've been to a lot of concerts in my day, but I have a confession to make: Although I'm a Christian, I have never been to a Christian concert before. There was definitely a positive vibe there.

It was happy and celebratory. Lots of people were there with their children. It's a great experience for families, and I think we're going to try and take the guys with us the next time we go.

If you are in the Southern California area, there are a couple of family-friendly options coming up soon:
On June 7th the Hillsong United Show is at the Hollywood Bowl. The doors open at 7 pm and the show starts at 8:00. You can buy tickets here.
On June 29th FISH Fest is going to be held at The Verizon Wireless Amphitheater and tickets go on sale today. If I am not mistaken, I think this concert tends to sell out each year, so you probably want to get your tickets as soon as you can.

Click here to get tickets and to read more about the event.

Both of these events are put on by Transparent Productions. They are a concert promotion company that works hard to bring Christian shows to Southern California and the rest of the nation. You can find out more about them here on their website. There is so much yuck and hatred in the world, it's nice to know there are some people and companies out there whose sole mission is to uplift people.

You can make sure you're up on the latest concerts and tour dates by following them on Twitter, on Instagram, and by liking their Facebook page.

By the way, this is one of my favorite Chris Tomlin songs. You can't hear it and NOT feel uplifted.

Pretty cool, huh?
No matter what's happening in my life, a quick listen to that song reminds me that God has everything under control.

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Transparent Productions but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #BurningLights http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO

about Vivienne Wagner

Delicious inspiration for Mother's Day Brunch.

noreply@blogger.com (Vivienne @ the V Spot) — Thu, 02 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

Every year we host a Mother's Day Brunch at our home. Every year we have certain dishes that are tried and true and now are, well, A Tradition. However, it's nice to change things up a bit too, so I've collected more than 40 recipes from talented cooks and am sharing them with you today.

Egg dishes, baked treats, make ahead dishes, fruit, smoothies... Just check out all of the goodness! These are perfect for Mother's Day Brunch, but also Baby Showers, Bridal Showers... anything that calls for yummy food at Brunch Time! Enjoy!

A Pinterest Reminder: As you scroll down through these fabulous recipes, and something looks good and you want to Pin it, please be sure to click over to the original site to do so. You want to be sure you can easily find that recipe again, right?

Egg Dishes & Breakfast Casseroles

Baked Eggs in a Bacon-Wrapped Polenta Crust from (me!) The V Spot

Cheesy Bacon & Potato Frittata from Amanda's Cookin'

Individual Frittatas from Always In Wonder

Breakfast Casserole from Artsy Fartsy Mama

Easy Breakfast Casserole from Mom Endeavors

Mexican Quiche Bites from Amanda's Cookin'

Texas Stuffed Biscuits from I Love My 5 Kids

Easy Breakfast Pizza from Always In Wonder

Bacon & Green Onion Frittata with Smoky Gouda from Amanda's Cookin'

Overnight Breakfast casserole from Thirty Handmade Days

Pancakes, Waffles, French Toast & Crepes

Make Ahead Pear & Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast from The V Spot

Strawberry Crepes from Sand & Sisal

Brown Sugar Bacon Belgian Waffles from Rook No 17

Sour Cream Cinnamon Roll Pancakes from Number 2 Pencil

The Best French Toast Ever from Sweet Rose Studio

Amazing Crepe Bar from I'm Topsy Turvy

Popovers with Cinnamon Butter from Amanda's Cookin'

Baked French Toast from Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke

The World's Best {Heart Shaped} Waffles from Dreaming In Color

Banana Split Crepes from Measured By the Heart

Guilt Free & Gluten Free Pancakes from HomeMadeville

True Belgian Waffles with Pearl Sugar & Yeast from Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke

Peanut Butter Pancakes from The Country Chic Cottage

Raspberry Stuffed French Toast from Mom Endeavors

Amazing Baked Goodness & Treats

Low Fat Cinnamon Cake from Cleverly Inspired

Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls from Mom's Crafty Space

Heirloom Pumpkin Bread from Craft Quickies

Cinnamon Coffee Cake from Dreaming In Color

Raspberry Lemon Yogurt Cake from Rook No 17

Banana Oatmeal Bread from Cleverly Inspired

Baby Cinnamon Rolls from Creative Green Living

Side Dishes & Drinks

Chickpea, Feta & Parsley Salad from Simple Provisions

Strawberry Basil Relish from The V Spot

Cheesy Sausage Potatoes from Reasons To Skip The Housework

Potatoes au Gratin from Homework

Orange Creamsicle Summer Fruit Dip from Madigan Made

Green Smoothie from The V Spot

Morning Sunrise Smoothie by Creative Green Living

A DIY Edible Arrangement from Mom Endeavors

Strawberry Greek Yogurt Fool from Mad In Crafts

Good stuff, right? So... what are you making first?

about Vivienne Wagner

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