Living La Vida Holoka


Easy Football Cheese and Cracker Party Platter {SoFabFood Post}

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Celebrate the return of football season with a football party platter!  This Easy Football Cheese and Cracker Party Platter is an affordable tailgating party recipe that’s sure to be a touchdown with football fans!


No matter how many times the game’s been explained to me, I still don’t understand the rules of football. But I do understand football food!  I mean, it’s pretty much the only reason I get excited for game day!  Who doesn’t love football food?  You can’t go wrong with chips and dip, wings, sliders, and so much more!  But today I’m doing things a little bit different for game day.  I’m going to score a tailgating touchdown with a football party platter! 

You might not think of cheese and crackers as the ultimate tailgating food.  But when you arrange the pepperoni slices in the shape of a football, it’s totally game on!  Cheese and crackers are classic party food and this football themed platter will be a hit during your next tailgating party!  Head to SoFabFood’s website today where I’m showing you how easy is it to put this party platter together for your next game day gathering!

Throw the ultimate tailgating party with this recipe and these party supplies:

If you like this recipe, you might enjoy these recipes that are perfect for game day, as well:

Yasss Witch Glam Halloween Wreath

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 This post may contain affiliate links.  Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.

Your neighbors will be saying “yasss witch” when they see this fab-BOO-lous DIY Glam Halloween Wreath hanging on your door this year!


It happens to me every time.  I go to Michael’s to make a return and end up giving my money right back to them.  That’s basically how this wreath came about.  I went to return extra florals I had leftover from the fall mason jar bouquets I made.  Then, I made the mistake of “just taking a look around.”  I was hanging around the Halloween aisles and that’s when I decided that I wanted to make a wreath.  The Halloween wreath I’ve been using each year has been hanging on our door for the past eight Halloweens!  It was time for a change.

I figured that I already showed you how to put together a wreath for summer and a pastel wreath for fall.  It was only fitting that I showed you how to make a modern wreath for Halloween, too!  So while I was wandering those ever-so-bewitching Halloween aisles, I noticed that a lot of the decor that’s out this year has a very “glam” feel to it.  That became my inspiration for this wreath.

Go glam this Halloween with a fab-BOO-lous floral wreath!

 
There are some really gorgeous Halloween florals out this year.  I mean, be still my inner goth because these florals bring the darkness and the drama!  Aside from just black flowers and foliage, there are deep magentas and purples that are just so beautiful against the black stems.  Considering I had just returned a bunch of florals, I tried not to go overboard.  

Like the other wreaths I’ve made, this one starts with an 18 inch grapevine wreath.  I started building my wreath with a black peony stem and a dark purple dahlia stem.  Then, I began adding other pieces like magenta foxtails, a black floral bunch, glitter spiders and pumpkins, an eyeball, and an “enter if you dare” sign as the final touch. 

The goal was a wreath that looked “yasss witch” glam with a touch of spookiness!  I can’t wait to hang this on my front door this Halloween!


SUPPLIES

STEPS

  1. Heat your hot glue gun.  While the glue gun is heating, plan your wreath. 
  2. Use as little or as much of the cheesecloth spiderwebs as you want.  Begin wrapping the cheesecloth around the wreath and glue into place.
  3. Then, plan where your florals will go and trim the stems with a wire cutter.
  4. Begin gluing the flowers onto the wreath.  Start with the larger flowers.  Then, add the smaller flowers and Halloween picks.
  5. Last, position the small Halloween sign onto the wreath and glue.
  6. Allow the glue to dry completely and hang on your front door to welcome the Halloween season!



If you’re not a big fan of Halloween, but still want to decorate, this wreath is a good option.  It’s not super creepy and the sparkly pumpkins and flowers add a glam, not-so-spooky touch to it. Nothing against my old candy corn wreath, but this wreath is going to spend the next who-knows-how-many-years up on my front door for Halloween!  Yasss witch!

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If you like this Halloween craft, you might enjoy these as well:

Easy Miso Soup with Udon Noodles

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This post may contain affiliate links. Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.

Create a satisfying and savory Japanese restaurant favorite right in the comfort of your kitchen with this Easy Miso Soup with Udon Noodles recipe!


If you’ve ever been to a Japanese restaurant, chances are you’ve been offered a bowl of miso soup before your meal.  Miso is a fermented soybean paste that, when added to a broth base, gives it a unique, umami flavor.  Traditional miso soup is made with miso paste, broth, mushrooms, green onions, seaweed, fish sauce, and scallions.  I prefer miso soup when it’s light on the seaweed and fish sauce.  If it’s omitted completely from the soup, it’s even better!  Miso is a delicious starter that I always look forward to at Japanese restaurants.  

I recently decided to take miso soup to entree status when I made a homemade version for the first time last week.  Soup season usually means my lunch of choice is some kind of noodle in broth.  We all know that Ramen is a pretty big deal these days, but one of my favorite Asian noodles is Udon (plus, it’s way more fun to say!).  Udon noodles are a thick cut noodle that are soft and slightly chewy.  They’re perfect for slurping, which by the way, is actually encouraged in Japanese culture! 

A delicious soup with lots of authentic Japanese flavor!

 
This was my first time working with miso paste. After trying to find it in two stores, I was almost about to give up on this recipe. Then, as I sat in the parking lot, I looked up where to locate it in the store. You won’t find it in the international aisle. Miso paste is actually a refrigerated item!  It was in with the fermented foods at Whole Foods.  Kind of makes sense since the paste is made out of fermented soybeans! 

I’m so glad I didn’t give up on this recipe because my first attempt at miso soup turned out to be delicious!  If you’re not opposed to fish sauce, I would definitely add a little into the broth to give it that authentic flavor.  This soup is still delicious without it and vegan-friendly!  This recipe makes a large batch, so enjoy it for dinner and lunch the next day, or freeze it!

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Easy Miso Soup with Udon Noodles

Easy Miso Soup with Udon Noodles

Ingredients

  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 3 cups water
  • 4 tbsp. white miso paste
  • 1/2 - 16 oz block firm tofu, drained and cubed
  • 1 cup shiitake mushrooms, sliced
  • 8 oz fresh Udon noodles
  • Chopped green onions, to garnish

Instructions

  1. In a medium pot, bring the vegetable broth and water to a boil.
  2. Whisk in the miso paste and lower heat to a simmer.
  3. Add the tofu and mushrooms to the broth. Cook just until the mushrooms have softened, about 5 minutes.
  4. Then, add the Udon noodles and stir. Cook noodles until they are warm.
  5. Spoon the soup into bowls and top with chopped green onions. Serve immediately.

Notes

To drain the tofu, place the tofu block onto a plate. Add another plate on top and use something heavy to weigh it down (I used my husband's YETI mug and that seemed to do the job). Tofu is best when drained overnight, but will be ready when the plate is mostly filled with water. Pat the tofu block dry and cut into cubes.

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This soup is full of delicious, earthy flavors.  If you’ve never had tofu before, don’t be afraid of trying it.  It’s soft in texture and takes on the flavor of whatever you cook it with!  I pinky promise you that, when prepared the right way, tofu can be a delicious vegetarian substitute in meals!

This recipe turned out to be more like a fun, miso noodle bowl instead of soup. I ended up adding the noodles, mushrooms, and tofu to my bowl first. Then, I topped it with broth and garnished it with green onions. Not only will this miso soup warm you up on cold days, but it’s really filling, too!  Have it for lunch and you’ll stay satisfied all afternoon! 

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If you like this recipe, you might enjoy these as well:

How to Easily Transition Your Wardrobe for Fall

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SparkleWithGain #ILoveGain #CollectiveBias

Swap out your summer clothes and get your closet ready for cooler weather with these tips to help you easily transition your wardrobe for fall!  Grab Fresh Water Sparkle™ products from Dollar General with the savings above!

 
Fall is my favorite time of year.  I’m definitely in the minority when I say that I actually prefer cold weather to the hot days of summer.  We had our last heatwave of the summer season just a few weeks ago and I cheered when it was over.  It was nice to feel that shift in the air when the humidity dips and cool breeze blows in.  We went from the 90s to the 60s in a matter of days!  It felt amazing to put on yoga pants and an oversized hoodie, and snuggle up under a big blanket!  Of course, in true New Jersey fashion, that weather was just a tease.  The heatwaves may be over for another year, but we still have a few of those upper 80 degree days hanging around.

Besides all of the pumpkins, hayrides, fall foliage, and the chill in the air, one of my favorite things about fall is my wardrobe.  I definitely prefer my cold weather clothes to my summer wardrobe!  I feel like you can get way more creative with outfits when you can layer, mix and match pieces, thrown on a hat, accessorize with scarves, and rock a killer pair of boots!  Despite having a bit of that summer weather linger, I started to transition my wardrobe from summer to fall.


Grab a Dollar General coupon and save on Gain Fresh Water Sparkle™ products by clicking the badge at the top of this post!

 
I devoted a day last week to cleaning out my closet and pulling out some of my fall wardrobe.  There was a lot a laundry about to happen, so I ran to Dollar General to stock up on Gain Fresh Water Sparkle™ products.  It’s an exclusive scent to Dollar General and smells scent-sational! It’s like a splash of Fresh Water Sparkle™ in every load of wash!  I had a lot of laundry to do and wanted to make my clothes #SparkleWithGain, so I grabbed Gain Flings!™ Laundry Detergent Pacs, Gain Fireworks™ In-Wash Scent Booster Beads, Gain Liquid Laundry Detergent and, Gain Dryer Sheets all in the Fresh Water Sparkle™ scent. 

Gain Liquid Laundry Detergent not only makes clothes smell amazing, but cleans great, too! Gain Flings!™ are a convenient way to wash your clothes, have 50% more scent than Gain Liquid Laundry Detergent, and work with any washer setting.  Gain Fireworks™ In-Wash Scent Booster Beads add more of Gain’s great scent to your laundry.  Just shake them into your washer before adding your clothes.  When you’re ready for the dryer, toss Gain Dryer Sheets in with your clothes to fight static, keep clothes soft, while adding another boost of that Fresh Water Sparkle™ scent!  Gain will keep clothes smelling amazing all season long, whether they’re in storage or hanging up in your closet!



Are you getting ready to transition your wardrobe over to fall?  Check out some of my tips below to make the process way easier!

Launder your clothes with Gain Fresh Water Sparkle products before storing them away

Before I store my summer clothing away, I like to make sure they’re nice and clean.  #ILoveGain!  Gain Fresh Water Sparkle™ products have become a staple in my home.  Not only does Gain keep my clothes clean, but it smells amazing, too! Gain Fresh Water Sparkle™ products will keep your clothes fresh even when they’re put away for the season!

Keep some summer staples

Don’t rush to put all of your summer clothes away!  I like keeping solid colored tank tops in neutral colors hanging in my closet.  They’re perfect for layering under off-the-shoulder tops and cardigans.  Plus, those t-shirts and tanks come in handy on warmer, fall days and look super cute with jeans and booties!

Layer with jackets, scarves, and cardigans

One of my favorite things about fall clothing is that every outfit is so much fun to layer and accessorize!  I love playing around with jackets or topping off an outfit with a fun scarf or hat.  Layers not only give an outfit an extra boost of style, but they’ll keep you a bit warmer when it’s cold outside!

Donate items you haven’t worn all season

While you’re cleaning out your closet, find some items that you haven’t worn all season.  My rule is that if I haven’t worn it in a year, it gets donated.  This frees up some space in your closet and you’ll do a good deed while you’re at it.  It’s a win-win!


If you’re ready to say “so long” to your summer wardrobe, head to your local Dollar General for the exclusive Fresh Water Sparkle™ line of Gain products!  You can find them where other detergents and cleaning products are sold.

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When do you start putting your summer clothes away?



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