Candied Walnut Gorgonzola Salad

This wonderful summer salad recipe is so amazing. Bright, juicy and perfect for the coming warmer months!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup walnut halves
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3 cups mixed greens
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
• 1 tablespoon raspberry vinaigrette
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions

1. Place walnuts and sugar in a skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves into a light brown liquid and coats the walnuts. Remove walnuts from skillet, and spread them out on a sheet of aluminum foil to cool.
2. Place in a large salad bowl the mixed greens, cranberries, cheese, vinaigrette, vinegar, and olive oil. Toss gently; add candied walnuts, and toss again.

Recipe courtesy of Allrecipes.com

Get Creative With Your Summer Entertaining

It's summertime! And that means it's time for pool parties, BBQ's, beach picnics and gatherings of all kinds. Of course we all know that the food is the center of attention at any party, but it's the decor that really gets people talking. You can make your summertime get-together even more fabulous with a great table setting. Here are some great ideas to make your summer gathering a memorable one.

Scallop Placemats and Napkins

For those little touches that always leave a lasting impression, decorating a table top is the place to start. Summer always gives off a beachy vibe, but throwing some sea shells and sand on a table doesn't hack it! Try adding cute coastal placemats that have simple, yet elegant ,designs. If you have a plain wood table, you can use placemats and napkins as an opportunity to add a pop of color. Bright blues and greens with hints or browns and sand colors are sure to give off this great beach feel!

Sea Life Napkin Rings

Other simple but creative ideas for your table setting might be to use beachy napkin rings. Simple yet chic! It's always fun to have a variety as well. Make a game out of it. Have everyone randomly seat themselves at the table and whoever chooses the setting with the pre-chosen (but surprise) napkin ring, get's a prize! If you have a regular get together, change up the designated winning item each time. It keeps guests guessing and having fun at the same time, not to mention all while admiring your beautiful table setting!

Everyone knows a great party has great drinks. Make your drinks even more fabulous with decorative wine glasses. These days, everyone is drinking their favorite drink out of their new favorite glass. And plus, it's always more fun drinking out of a pretty glass than a plain one.

Shoreline Hand Painted Wine Glasses

If you are really looking to step up your game when it comes to your summer entertaining, try looking for a new set of dishware. Whether you are hosting a four course meal for the Captain of the Queen Victoria, or having a lunch in with the girls at your coastal cottage by the shore, the right dishware help you go from ordinary to extraordinary!

Regardless of the of occasion, there are endless ways you make your summer gathering a memorable one. Of course the best way of all is the company that you keep!

Ideas for Decorating a Fireplace Mantel for Summer

Easy Ways to Add Style to the Hearth

A roaring fireplace on a cold winter night is a comfort, and it is also a decorative part of the home, but when the warmer months arrive the fireplace hearth sometimes becomes an empty dark shell and the mantel simply becomes a place for storing displaced knickknacks. However, the mantel can be decorated in honor of any season, and the following ideas will help you get started on decorating your fireplace mantel to help usher in summer while bringing the best of the season into the home. These ideas for decorating the fireplace mantel for summer are relatively inexpensive, and they will help you add decorating style and appeal during warmer summer months when fires are put on hold.

Decorating with Bamboo

Plants are ideal for display on the fireplace mantel during the summer months when hot crackling fires are nothing but a memory. Consider growing bamboo in a decorative container of your choice. Bamboo requires plenty of moisture to thrive, and it requires occasional feeding, but many varieties do not require a lot of light. The fireplace mantel is the ideal location when decorating with live low-light foliage.

Along with attractive containers of live bamboo, begin decorating the mantel with items of interest that offset the backdrop. For example, if the wall behind the mantel is white, consider selecting beautiful jade sculptures to go along with the bamboo theme. If the wall behind the fireplace mantel is dark and designed using brick or stone, select items of interest that are light in color such as smaller three-dimensional sculptures or tabletop works of art that are mainly white or another light hue. 

Summer Candle Displays for Decorating

Many people burn candles exclusively during the cooler months of winter. The flames cast a warm and inviting glow. However, candle displays are also ideal when decorating for summer, especially when decorating a fireplace mantel. Select unique candle holders and fragrant long-burning candles. Create a row of graduating heights, and light the candles on a dark night for romantic candlelight or the ambience of a fireplace. Even when the mantel is the only area illuminated by dancing flames, the fireplace will look grand, warm, and exceptionally inviting, especially when the candles are placed in front of a framed mirror that will double the amount of light. 

Decorating with Sunny Outdoor Photos

When decorating the fireplace mantel for summer, put away winter or spring holiday decor, and display a few well-arranged framed photos in between favorite candle displays, foliage, or eye-catching knickknacks. Select vacation photos, outdoor summer scenes that include friends or family members, or display scenic summer beach photos. What better way to bring a touch of summer into the home and onto the fireplace mantel than by decorating with memories of summers past? Sunny summer photos will instantly bring the fireplace mantel to life while bringing a touch of summer indoors and into an area commonly thought of as a place for winter decor.

Think of your favorite colors and designs of summer, and look for ways to add style to your fireplace mantel during the warmer months of the year. With plants, tabletop summer decor, creatively displayed candles, and framed memories of past summers you can begin decorating your fireplace mantel for the summer while making your fireplace mantel a place for expression.

Article Source: Associated Content by Yahoo 
Article Author: Crystal Ray

Deal Of The Day - Wooden Bench With Basket Drawers

Wooden Bench With Basket Drawers

• Regular Price $249.95
• Today Only $219.95

This gorgeous wooden bench features a white wood frame with beadboard accents and 3 large baskets for added storage. This would be perfect for your entryway, mudroom, window seat or at the foot of your bed. Could also double as a child's toy chest.

Deal Of The Day - Bamboo Towel Ring

Bamboo Towel Ring

• Regular Price $22
• Today Only $17

This authentic bamboo towel towel ring will coordinate perfectly with the bamboo towel bars, or it's great on its own as well! Attaches to wall with a ceramic plate.

Deal Of The Day - Palm Tree Ceiling Fan

Palm Tree Ceiling Fan

• Regular Price $229
• Today Only $199

This Palm Tree Ceiling Fan is a must have for those that don't want to forget the tropics. Handpainted and with two pull chains, this fan will cool you down as you watch the palm trees on this treasure of a find. This fan has three speeds and also contains 4 blades. Best of all, there is a globe light included.

Summer Decorating - Cool Decor Ideas For Hot Days

Summer is a great time to add some pizazz to your decorating. The key to summer decorating is to lighten and brighten. Try some of these tips to transform your rooms and get your home ready for summer:

Remove Layers: Just as we pack away our heavy sweaters once the snow is gone, we can do the same for our rooms. Warm, fuzzy throws draped over the sofa bring warmth to a room in the winter, but can add too much visual heat once the hot weather arrives. Replace heavy throws with lighter, airier fabrics for a more summery feel.

Do the same for large area rugs and the smaller runners in the entryway and kitchen -- replace them with lighter rugs (look for any of the following: jute, cotton, bamboo or sisal), or even remove them completely for the season.

Tablecloths and table runners can also be replaced with lightweight versions. A white runner really lightens up a dark wood table. This is a great time to go sheer with window treatments as well. It can really make your space feel more open.

Cover Up: If you have a dark, heavy sofa or chairs, a slipcover in a lighter color and fabric can dramatically change the appearance of your room. This trick also works in the bedroom -- slipcover your headboard for a whole new look. Look for lighter, cooler fabrics in a summery pattern like a light stripe or floral print. For a more casual feel, try white canvas.

Throw cushions can also benefit from the slipcover treatment. Use sheer fabric (for added detail, try an embroidered sheer) to make covers for your dark throw pillows. Even easier -- take a sheer scarf and tie it around the pillow for an instant no-sew cover.

For pillows that really say summer, try this easy DIY project: Sew two standard-size towels together along three sides to make super soft, comfortable pillowcases. Smaller towels can be used to cover throw cushions.

Add Some Artwork: Replace your heavier artwork with lighter pieces -- go for summer landscapes, florals and botanicals, shells and water scenes. White picture frames can help to lighten things up as well.

Gather up outdoor photos of family and friends (beach shots are great for this). Put them in coordinating frames and hang them in a grouping to create a photo wall that's sure to be a focal point.
You can also fashion your own summer artwork in a few simple steps -- pick a few flowers and leaves from the garden, press them in a book for a week or two, then place them in a picture frame (for those that share my fear of bugs, check flowers before pressing to avoid any unpleasant surprises!). Any of these tips will brighten up your home for summer and give you a fresh new look.

Visit OceanStyles.com for more great summer and beach decorating ideas.