Giveaways

Spring Dinner Party with Macy’s Backstage

April 12, 2018 1 Comment Giveaways

Rain or shine, I’m excited about Spring, especially when I get to use it as an excuse to have a dinner party. I partnered with Macy’s Backstage, Macy’s new off-price store within their department store, to redesign space and celebrate spring. We were challenged to create a new space using $200 or less! Challenge accepted. See more from this party and what other bloggers have done with their challenge by searching #MacysBackstage on your favorite social media platform.

Spring Dinner Party featuring Macy’s Backstage

If you’ve ever put together a tablescape then you know that things can add up. Plates, centerpieces, glassware, dinnerware, linens.. the list goes on and on. I have always been an advocate of purchasing good quality, neutral items that can be used in almost any situation. However, every now and again, you want to spruce things up a bit! I wanted to really create a lovely Spring-inspired dining area with my challenge from Macy’s Backstage.

Utilize loved finds in new ways

I had so much fun going through the home decor section of Macy’s Backstage. I really enjoy finding things that can be multi-use items. For this spring dinner party, I knew that while I wanted a spring-like feel I also didn’t want to have to store items that I could only bring out really for the spring and summer. I found really amazing deals on beautiful pots that worked great in my dinner party as a vase, wine cooler, and candle holder… but, I’ll also be able to house some fresh herbs in them or succulents. The large blue pot that is holding the flowers was seriously only $8! AMAZING prices. Oh, and that tablecloth? Yea, it was $15.

Did I meet the challenge?

For sure! Some of the table items/ glassware were ones that I already owned, but I still would have been able to meet the challenge had I supplied everything from Macy’s Backstage. I was also able to get some fun spring attire to wear at my spring dinner party. Check out my total:

Purchased:

2 Pairs of Jeans (they have clothing all the way from babies to plus size!)
3 tops
1 hat (so many fun accessories there as well!)
1 tablecloth
3 pots
1 hurricane candle holder
candles (a few!)
Water dispenser (pictured below… I’m in love.)
Serving Dish

All of that cost me $179 at Macy’s Backstage.

Macy’s Backstage Grand Opening

The Portland location for this new concept from Macy’s is located at the Llyod Center Mall. It is celebrating the grand opening on April 14th starting at 10 AM. The first 200 shoppers get a scratch-off card worth anywhere from $5 to $25 off of their Backstage purchase. Not in Portland? Macy’s Backstage is opening up across the nation in different locations. Check here to find the Macy’s Backstage near you.

More about Macy’s Backstage: The Macy’s Backstage concept was created specifically for the stylish yet cost-conscious shopper. The space features home decor, gifts, entertaining ware, kitchen goods, toys, shoes, children attire, youth attire, men’s attire, women’s attire, plus-size women’s attire, accessories, beauty products, and more.

Giveaway

Macy’s Backstage is offering one of my readers a $100 gift card. I’m giving it away over on my Instagram. Hop on over to enter to win. Giveaway ends on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 11:59 PM. I’ll message the winner on Monday, April 16th.

Happy shopping!

A Well Crafted Pantry

Easy Dinner Idea: Stuffed Ravioli Tossed with Spinach, Tomatoes & Pesto

June 2, 2015 1 Comment A Well Crafted Pantry

Stuffed Ravioli with Spinach, Tomato and Pesto - A Well Crafted Party

I love eating outdoors as soon as the weather calls for it. A great outdoor meal to me doesn’t always have to incorporate cooking outside (ie grilling) but, it does need to be simple and easy to transport outdoors. The below outdoor meal entree is not just INCREDIBLY simple to make and holds up to my outdoor meal criteria, but also was extremely affordable to make.

When Grocery Outlet sent me a gift card to try out some of their deals, I went in with no idea what kind of meal I was going to make. But, after just a few minutes perusing the aisles and checking out their ad I had a plan in place. I picked up all of my ingredients in one trip to Grocery Outlet and had the meal on the table in thirty minutes after getting home. Today I’m sharing the main course item that took about 10 minutes from start to finish. This entree would be perfect for an easy weeknight meal alfresco!

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This post was created in collaboration with Grocery Outlet. All opinions are my own. Thank you for reading and sharing posts that are created in partnership with brands that help support this blog.Grocery Outlet operates 210+ stores in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington.Visit the Grocery Outlet website to find a store near you and sign up for notifications when their new ad comes out!

A Well Crafted Pantry

Tips for a Great Outdoor Meal & Grocery Outlet Giveaway

May 6, 2015 19 Comments A Well Crafted Pantry

The warmer days of Spring are here and Summer is just around the corner. For me this means that it is time to bring dinner OUTDOORS! Spring and Summer holidays and special occasions (Mother’s Day is Sunday!) are the perfect opportunity to bring a meal outdoors. The change of scenery can help make any meal feel like a special meal. But, not every meal makes for a great outdoor meal. You’ll want a meal that can hold up to the weather, be easy to serve and not too complicated to pack up and bring to wherever you are having your outdoor meal. When Grocery Outlet asked if I wanted to work with them on a post I immediately thought of all the fun outdoor items that they get this time of year, and wanted to throw a little outdoor party in honor of Mother’s Day. Below are some of my tips for creating a great outdoor meal. Check in tomorrow for a few recipes that anyone can make that are great for an outdoor meal!

What makes a great outdoor meal?

I think that there are a few factors that make for an outdoor meal, including simplicity. Part of eating outdoors should be that the whole meal has a more relaxed feel to it. Even if you are going super fancy and formal, the meal itself can be made simple and easy to eat while still being elegant. Last year I went to a wonderful outdoor farm to table meal that completely hit all my favorite notes of an outdoor meal! Here are my tips for what makes a great outdoor meal:

1. Keep it Simple – The meal does not need to be complicated nor have a lot of steps. The perfect outdoor meal can either be cooked outdoors, or packed up and easy carried outdoors. When planning an outdoor meal you’ll want to keep your ingredient list down (at least the items that are going to the table, if you want to prep a complicated many ingredient meal at home that still carries nicely and is easy to serve then by all means, go for it!), keep the garnishes to a minimum and let the meal really be the centerpiece of the experience.

2. Make sure it holds up to the weather- Besides food safety, considering the weather is important for the overall meal experience. If the meal you are serving really tastes best piping hot then you’ll need to figure out a way to cook or at least reheat outdoors so that the wind doesn’t take down the temp. Or, you can choose a meal that can be served at room temperature or cooled. If it is really hot then you might need to think about whether your desserts or meal items are going to just melt while waiting to be served. Of course, don’t forget about food safety as no one likes food poisoning. Items that are sitting out need to be properly cooled or heated to keep the items out of the danger zone.

3. A pretty setting – Eating outdoors can be a wonderful experience that can make any meal feel like a special occasion. Of course, if that meal is served in a not-so-ideal space and handed out wrapped in plastic it can feel more like a fast food experience than a special occasion. Take a few moments to make the meal special by taking care on how it is served. Even dressing up your picnic items a bit can make an ordinary meal feel extraordinary. When throwing parties in my back yard I often opt to cut flowers from my yard and use my basic dishware from the house. I leave my really nice dishware inside, but the basics can still feel dressed up when surrounded by nature! When I picnic I try to make things nicer by wrapping them in parchment paper and twine rather than just plastic baggies, or serving items on bamboo plates or reusable outdoor plastic plates instead of opting for paper.There are also a lot of great brands of really beautiful paper plates out there that can be perfect for making an outdoor meal feel special.

4. Think about pests – Nothing can ruin a meal faster than a few pests. Supply bug spray, plant bug repellent plants around your yard, or use some citronella candles to ward off pesky mosquitoes and flies. I found these adorable yellow tins with citronella candles at Grocery Outlet for less than $2 and bought a whole bunch of them for my outdoor parties. Not only do they look cute on the table, but they help ward off unwanted bugs!

Don’t forget to check back tomorrow for some super easy recipes that ANYONE can make for a great outdoor meal!

Enter to win a giveaway to Grocery Outlet

Grocery Outlet wants to help you serve a great outdoor (or indoor) meal and are sharing a $25 Gift Card with one lucky reader. Grocery Outlet operates 210+ stores in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Check out the Grocery Outlet website to find a store near you!

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This post was created in collaboration with Grocery Outlet. All opinions are my own. Thank you for reading and sharing posts that are created in partnership with brands that help support this blog.