Let's Mingle Blog

Easy Entertaining for Everyday Celebrations

Archives for July 2015

DIY Polaroid Cake Topper

Jul 31 2015 by 1 Comment

DIY Polaroid Cake TopperRemember one post back, when I mentioned topping this cake with a fun cake topper?

Did you really think I’d leave you guys hanging without a cake topper project…? Absolutely not. Duh.

I’m sure most of you happen to have a polaroid camera hanging around. They were all the rage a few years back and they’re not going anywhere anytime soon! (Have you seen the new wide camera?! Love!)

I’ve seen SO many awesome ways to incorporate polaroid pictures into everyday life and I’ve been kind of obsessed with celebrating the infamous polaroid in my own way…which would have to tie into a party, of course.

So I combined one of my favorite things (dessert) with polaroids…and this baby was born…a DIY polaroid cake topper!

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Strawberry Shortcake Layer Cake

Jul 29 2015 by 1 Comment

Strawberry Shortcake Layer CakeStrawberry Shortcake Layer CakeIt’s definitely not a birthday without cake and there was no way I was going to let the blog’s 1/2 birthday slip by without whipping up a little something sweet!

But, with a birthday falling during the middle of the week, I opted for a bit of a short cut, instead of trying to make everything from scratch.

Yes, it’s nice to be able to say you made a cake from scratch now and then, but in reality, sometimes a box cake needs to come into play to save time and your sanity. Sandra Lee has this whole semi-homemade thing down, so why not?

Since we are smack dab in the middle of strawberry season right now, I wanted to create a fun cake that incorporated the yummy berries but didn’t want to make traditional strawberry shortcake….so instead, I made a layer cake incorporating the same flavors…

Strawberry Shortcake Layer Cake!

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Mini Cake Banner Printable

Jul 27 2015 by 2 Comments

Mini Cake Banner PrintableI definitely don’t need an excuse to celebrate around here.

Hello…my entire blog is based on entertaining, but this week is a special one.

It officially marks Let’s Mingle’s 1/2 birthday!

6 months of posting all things confetti, cake, and entertaining related!

A bit of a stretch for a celebratory post, yeah probably, but it’s still a fun reason to party, and honestly, blogging is hard work, so why not celebrate?

It’s especially hard when you still work a regular job and blog on the side. So a huge shout out to all of the other bloggers holding down a 9-5 and still finding time in your lives for blogging and sharing what you love with your readers!

But let’s get back to the good stuff.

What good is a party without cake…? If you ask me, it’s not. (Then again, I consider cake to be a regular breakfast staple, so maybe I’m not the best person to ask).

If you don’t have any cake to serve, I’ve got the next best thing, if not better.

A mini cake banner printable!

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Blueberry Ice Cream

Jul 24 2015 by Leave a Comment

Blueberry Ice CreamAre you guys ready for the easiest ice cream recipe ever?

No, really. This stuff is a cinch to make.

No ice cream maker…? No problem.

Don’t want to sit over the stove or wait for things to chill for hours in the fridge before freezing? Again, no worries here.

This blueberry ice cream is a breeze to make and only takes about 10 or 15 minutes. You can’t mess it up and the results are beyond yummy.

People will think you slaved over it for hours and you’ll keep the little secret to yourself that in reality it only took you minutes. (That’s my kinda ice cream recipe).

Not only does this ice cream have fresh blueberries in every bite, but I also added in coconut flakes and white chocolate chips to take it to a whole other level.

I should have named this stuff blueberry bliss…because that’s definitely how you’ll be feeling when you eat it.

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Healthy Strawberry Margaritas

Jul 20 2015 by Leave a Comment

Healthy Strawberry Margarita RecipeThis week is only a 4 day work week for the residents of Utah (aka, me) and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

Pioneer Day, the day that the pioneers settled in the state, is on Friday and I intend to celebrate the state holiday with a cool cocktail in hand. (Not exactly very “Utah-esque” of me, but what can I say. I’m an expat. 😉

My sister, who happens to be a health crazed freak beast from the planet Mars (no, seriously, she ENJOYS health food. I don’t get it), shared this recipe for healthy strawberry margaritas with me and I definitely feel a lot less guilty having a second (or third, or fourth, ahem), when I’m sipping on these guys.

She tried to hook me with the fact that it’s super healthy, has basic ingredients with no added sugar, and that you can understand all of the ingredients on the label, but, of course, I had zero interest in that.

Healthy Strawberry Margarita RecipeI tried it. It was good. I was sold. I’m uncomplicated. (And I like sugar. Sue me).

But for all of you crazy health people, this cocktail’s for you. And it tastes good too, so there’s that.

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Mini Floral Arrangements

Jul 16 2015 by 3 Comments

Mini Floral ArrangementsMini Floral ArrangementsI am a total flower girl.

No, I don’t want the hubs getting me flowers each week, but I love to have fresh flowers on my table when I have company over or put together a dinner party.

It’s a simple way to bring the outdoors in and make things seem fresh. And not to mention they’re gorgeous. That doesn’t hurt either!

But, there’s only one problem. They’re expensive! They can really put a serious dent in your bank account if you order flowers from the pros for every get-together you have.

So, how do I fix that little problem…?

I make my own arrangements with grocery store flowers!

They are super cheap, easy to find, and you can make arrangements that are a cinch to put together too.

These mini floral arrangements cost me about $5 total to make and they are so cute!

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Dip-Dye Favor Bags

Jul 13 2015 by 2 Comments

Dip-Dye Favor BagsI’m on a watercolor kick lately.

I started out with these cookies a few weeks ago and I haven’t stopped since.

Maybe it’s because I’ve realized that I don’t have much skill when it comes to watercolor (at least not yet!), or maybe it’s because everything just looks so pretty with watercolor technique, but either way, I’m hooked.

I’m also totally ok with any DIY project that makes watercoloring look easy, because I realized that it’s definitely not!

Today’s project definitely has a watercolor touch and I love how they turned out!

These dip-dye favor bags are the perfect addition to your next party, will have your guests wondering when you had the time to pull them off, and totally cross that watercolor love off the list too.

They take almost no time at all to do and did I mention that they are easy, easy, easy to make?!

This whole project is a total win.

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Shark Week Cocktail: “Blood in the Water”

Jul 10 2015 by Leave a Comment

Shark Week Cocktail: "Blood in the Water"It’s FRIDAY!

I don’t know about you, but this week has been a doozy for me.

Crazy busy schedules, what seems like an endless amount of problems popping up, and various home improvements that all decided now was the perfect time to break down. (Our front door handle was only ONE of the many things we had to fix this week. We’ve been creeping through our backyard at night, like robbers, and getting in through our back door. Why not through our garage door instead…? Oh yeah, because that broke this week too).

Hopefully your week has been better than mine! But, regardless, I feel like you can’t go wrong with a Friday. There is nothing better than knowing you can relax on the weekends, sleep in, go to brunch, or just stay up late and watch tv. Not having to answer to the responsibilies that Monday-Friday requires is always a huge relief.

If you had a week that was anything like mine, you might want to pour yourself a drink while you watch what’s left of shark week.

This shark week cocktail is dubbed “Blood in the Water”, because a). There is “blood” in the water, and b). Because this week has me feeling like chum. So it’s a two-fer.

But don’t let that whole “chum” thing turn you off. It’s a delicious and refreshing cocktail that is sure to enhance your shark week viewing pleasure!

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