good eats . how to make candied ginger

Crystallized (or candied) ginger is a great addition to baked goods, trail mix, or even as a chewy snack with a bit of a kick. You can buy it already candied at many groceries, but it's way, way cheaper to make it yourself. I like to think it's a lot more satisfying, too!

Get your ingredients together: fresh ginger root, granulated sugar, and water. You'll also need a vegetable peeler and a sharp knife. 

1.   Cut the ginger into pieces, and peel all the skin off each piece.

2.   Slice each piece thinly - no more than 1/8" thickness.

3.   Boil all the pieces over medium-high heat for about 45 minutes, until they're softer and no longer crisp. 

4.   Drain the water from boiling, except for 1/8 cup (assuming a half-pound of ginger). 

5.   To the ginger and water, add sugar in approximately the same amount as your ginger. Stir it together, and boil it down until it evaporates and starts to look like sugar grains again. Stir constantly to keep everything separated and evenly-coated.

6.   Put all the pieces on a cooling rack to dry. I don't have one, so I just used a foil-lined cookie sheet. 

can't live without . down and out chic

Summer is my absolute favorite season because although the Southern heat can, at times, seem unbearable, the summer is the perfect season to kick back, relax, and stay cool (literally, mind you). Here are the six summer essentials I depend to do just that:

1. I've been wearing these shoes ($53) pretty much non stop since I bought them. They're incredibly comfortable, go with just about everything and they're made from genuine leather in Italy. Not a bad deal for shoes I'll leave all season. 
2. I live in my fedora on the weekends because it's just so easy! No need to fuss with your hair, just wear a fedora with a sundress and you're good to go. I love this short brimmed, colorful option ($85) from Mar y Sol. 
3. I have long hair and in order to keep my hair healthy, I like to cut down on the amount of heat styling I use during the summer. Bumble and Bumble's surf spray ($22) helps my wavy hair achieve that tousled, I just stepped out of the ocean and isn't my hair awesomely messy kind of look without the use of heat. Plus, the smell helps me daydream of the ocean while I'm at the office so it's kind of like bringing a little beat of my favorite place with me wherever I go .
4. What's easier than a tank dress in hot weather? This option ($53) by Madewell comes in a variety of colors and is long enough to wear around town and could easily double as a cover up at the beach.
5. A roomy, lightweight tote holds all the essentials and is especially helpful hitting up flea markets, craft fairs, and farmer's markets on Saturday mornings. I own one bag by Infusion and the quality if fantastic. This striped tote ($89) is on my wish list.  
6. Although I like a sunkissed look, I'm not a fan of damaging my skin in order to achieve it. Jergen's Natural Glow ($6.79) is affordable, easy to apply, and the color is incredibly natural. I've had some bad luck trying to apply sunless tanning products and this product is a no-brainer. If I'm going to be in the sun, I depend on Neutrogena's break-out free formula ($7.99) to protect my skin without causing clogged pores. 

Thanks to Christina of Down and Out Chic for keeping you guys company while I'm away for a couple weeks in Europe! I love her picks and think I just might have to try out the surf spray! Be sure to support my vacation guests with lots of comment love!

blog better . photo layout design for posts

Hi, leShrimpers! While Lindsay is gallivanting around Europe (me: jealous!), I am here to talk about photo layouts in your blog posts. I think photo layouts are a big piece of creating a consistent and pleasing blog aesthetic. When I look back at my very first blog posts, the photo layouts make me cringe. You can learn a lot from other blogs about what makes a good layout. I am going to share several of my favorite layouts and why I like them. 

This photo layout from Creature Comforts is a great example of clean, minimalist lines. This type of layout lets the images do the talking. Creating a title tab in our images (in this image, "DIY wooden rack") can tie the photo layout to our blog aesthetic. I also like how this layout has the image credit built right in to the photo. That way, when the image makes it way to Pinterest, it is clear who the original creator is (I should take note of doing this for my own blog!).

Oh Joy! creates some of my favorite layouts. She frequently uses this number layout. The number layout serves several purposes. First of all, it's incredibly cute. It also creates a visual center for the photo layout. See how this layout has several types of images that do not have a strong, central visual theme? By themselves, the images do not have a lot in common in terms of color palette or shapes. The numbers pull it all together and 'make it work.' 

the kentucky derby . I wore it

So here it is - what I wore to the Kentucky Derby. It was hella hot that day, so I didn't really bother to accessorize much. The hat was very, very necessary, as the sun was putting up a good fight all day. I have a little confession, too - I actually switched to flats before we walked to the Derby. That is not a heels venue... We rented an RV for the weekend, and it was an awesome experience. 

Oh, and this oh-so-fashionable wristband I forgot to take off? I'm not even ashamed. Know why? I got it from seeing The Old 97's. *swoon*

I fully believe that a dress isn't perfect unless it has good spin potential. This one fits the bill. 

can't live without . my beautiful disaster

Hello lovely readers!  My name is Erin from My Beautiful Disaster.  Lindsay is off on an awesome vacation right now, and asked me to answer a simple question....what are six thing I can't live without.  It took me some time to think about it, but by jove I think I got it!

1. My Boys: This is just a given.  I love my son and boyfriend more than anything in the world.  How could you not, they're freaking  adorable!
2. My Job: Most of us can't survive without a job or some form of income (unless you're a hermit in the mountains, in which case I somewhat envy you).  I feel pretty fortunate to love what I do for a living and being able to hone my craft everyday.  I actually look forward to going to work, if you can believe that.  Whoa.
3. My iPhone: I'm addicted to Instagram.  I love Hipstamatic, and being able to check Facebook and Twitter on the fly.  I'm not sure how I managed to survive without my iPhone, especially after our most recent road trip.
4. Good Food: As I've gotten older I've become such a foodie, and my wee belly can attest to that.  I love everything exotic and ethnic, from Lebanese to Japanese to everything in between.  I crave tofu even though I'm not a vegetarian, and I try to go out for sushi at least once a week.  Oh, and don't forget the Indian buffets... *drool*
5. My Purse: This thing is HUGE.  I can carry my whole life in it, including my big honkin' camera.  If I lost this baby, I'm not sure how I would survive.
6. My Camera: Well, I should say cameras.  I have a huge collection of vintage cameras that are (mostly) in working order, but the pièce de résistance is my Canon 5D Mark II.  I love this camera, mainly for its video capabilities (I work in TV, so it's just a given I adore that feature.)

So, those are the six things I can't live without.  I'd love to hear yours!

Later gators,

~E

Thanks to Erin of My Beautiful Disaster for keeping you guys company while I'm away for a couple weeks in Europe! You seriously have to click her road trip link up there on #3 - tons of great pictures!!! Be sure to support my vacation guests with lots of comment love!