Since I made the Death by Chocolate Trifle, I’ve tried my hand at a few variations. During Easter I decided to try my hand at a lighter type of trifle using strawberries – and it was a success! I think it would be a perfect addition for any summer cookouts, or a weekend treat!
What You’ll Need: I made a homemade strawberry mousse for my trifle, which I found on Pinterest, (so go check out the recipe on An Italian in My Kitchen’s blog). You’ll need a lot of strawberries, some granulated sugar, and whipping cream. For the remainder of the trifle you’ll need: Sliced and diced strawberries Angel food cake Cool Whip
I would suggest making the strawberry mousse, and letting it set (and get nice and cold) over night if possible. If you are making your own angel food cake, do the same with that as well – you want everything cooled to make the trifle.
In a trifle bowl layer angel food cake pieces, strawberry mousse, cool whip and then strawberries until trifle bowl is full – be sure that the top is a layer of strawberries! Keep chilled – and serve in small bowls and enjoy!
So anyone that follows me on social media knows that my family (like legit, mom, Dad, sister, kids, niece and nephew) all enjoy going hiking. We make it a family affair (including carrying the little one on our shoulders after she poops out). I’m constantly on the look out for great places to hike that give us a bit of variety, so as I was searching I came across the area of Yellow Springs Ohio. I was super excited because it has a ton of trails (over 2000 acres of woodland and rivers edge hiking trails in Glen Helen, John Bryan State Park and Clifton Gorge). and WATERFALLS! I knew the family would be totally up for a water adventure, so after church one Sunday we headed up to Yellow Springs to see what kind of trouble we could get into!
This park is HUGE so without really knowing where we were going we found a place to park and ended up on the Glen Helen Multi-trail loop which is about 4 and 1/2 miles around.
Already this park was different than we were used to – trees that really tower, bridges, boulders and narrow paths. It reminded me a bit of Hocking Hills (I can’t wait to take the kids there this fall).
We ran across a fresh spring ‘waterfall’ within the first few minutes and the kids jumped right in (literally) it was a pretty hot day so I didn’t mind, though I wish I would of brought an extra outfit (or two) and had them wear their swim trunks! Miss Sassy pants enjoyed playing in the water too – we do hike quite a bit, so I think she was shocked there was actually water she could play in! The boys love to climb on anything and everything, so we allowed them where it was permitted.
About mid way in, we found the mother of all waterfalls (well, at least for the kids) and they got super excited to jump in and play. Now I am not entirely sure that playing in the falls is something that is usually permitted since on our way back out of the trails, we saw some park rangers headed to the direction of the falls with a few flyers about some rules (I still don’t know what they said for sure, but I wanted to give a disclaimer that we didn’t see anything posted when we let the kids play)
But the boys had a blast and didn’t want to leave! I love seeing them enjoy the outdoors and not have their nose stuck in a tablet or playing video games. I would take them hiking every day if I could.
We enjoyed a few hours of hiking, stopped and had a picnic lunch at one of the picnic areas and headed home, but we will be back!
If you are looking for a fun new place to hike you definitely need to check it out!
In Infinity War, the audience left the theaters with their mouths wide open, shock running through their minds.
With Endgame, those reactions will be much more intense.
Remember all the emotion you felt while watching Infinity War?? Remember the laughter, the gasps, and the tears? Multiply that by 20 – no make that 100, That still doesn’t reach what you’ll feel watching this iconic film.
With twist and turns and an ending you won’t see coming, Marvel creates a film that they themselves will never be able to recreate. There is no mercy, no character that gets away unscathed, and no viewer that will walk away with no tears. It’s a messy, beautiful ending for some characters and stories that we’ve all been following for the past ten years. I was speechless : Marvel will never be the same and either will my heart.
A focus on the heroes who started the stories, the Russo Brothers deliver a truly bittersweet and heartbreaking ending. Using trips down memory lane and small drops of hope for the future, we get beautiful complete arcs for the characters we love. It all comes full circle, and you’ll leave the theater both happy and sad that you’ve seen this legendary film.
(Spoilers) Tony Stark finally gets a child. A cute, adorable little girl named Morgan. Ignore all the snark and attitude you’ve seen from Tony in older films – in this movie, every action, every word is full of love. Having a child changed him, and it changed him for the better. He’s no longer the man we met in Iron Man – he’s far from it.
Steve Rogers finally finds happiness in a way you don’t expect it. His arc will end in a way that will leave you both happy and tearful in the best way possible.
Thor Odinson has hope for the future. He had spent his time trying to hide his sadness, trying to hide the fact that he was afraid. But the events of the movie force him to deal with this. Though he doesn’t reign down on the bad guys or use any of that lightning going through his veins, his character development reaches new heights.
One thing’s for sure – you’ll leave the theater proud of them all.
But, you’ll also leave with sadness. For every smile you have, there will be 20 tears to greet it. Not every character will have the ending or story you want them to have. But I promise you – it will all be worthy of the brave and selfless people you fell in love with.
While some characters don’t get the most screen time, you know you’ll see more of them in the future. But that’s ok – this movie was a tear-jerking yet heartwarming tribute to the OG characters. Just know when you see it – bring tissues.
France combines romance and classy living with history and fine wine. Throw in the stunning Riviera and Alps, and you’re sure to have your ultimate Luxury Retreats french summer getaways. But not every trip to France goes to plan. And that’s because tourists don’t take the time to prepare themselves before they arrive. If you’re thinking of travelling to France this summer, check out these essential things you should know before you go.
Paris is the city of romance, but…
Paris is the most
famous city in the world. The name alone conjures images of roadside cafés,
candlelit dinners and the iconic Eiffel Tower. For centuries, Paris was the
centre of European culture. But in the 21st-century, this allure and appeal have
diminished. Holidaymakers have a glitzy and romantic image of Paris in their
head before they take their vacation. Some are disappointed when they arrive.
Paris is an incredible city, just have a realistic expectation of what it’s
like.
As much wine as you can drink
Vineries fill the
French countryside in the southern regions of the country. Wine-lovers could
easily spend a month touring the different grape growing regions and tasting
the different varieties of wine. You can then buy a bottle straight from the
vineyard as either souvenir to take home or to enjoy in your hotel or vacation
rental. And when you visit any village, town or city, you’ll find hundreds of
bottles filling the shelves of shops and supermarkets. Most come at a very
affordable price tag as well as giving you the perfect excuse to indulge.
Don’t stay in one place
France offers
diversity in its landscapes, architecture and culture. Tourists should seize
the opportunity to get around and experience everything the country has to
offer. If you’re planning a two-week vacation, why not visit three or four
places instead of one? You can quickly get from one town or city to the next
using the train. This gives you a chance to see the very best that France has
to offer. Consider stopping by Paris before making your way down south to the
French Riviera.
Rent a car
One of the most
convenient ways to explore France is by renting a car. You can find a rental at
the airport or in most cities at a reasonable price. Once you have a vehicle,
you have the freedom to drive around and soak up the atmosphere and culture. A
highlight is driving around southern France. You’ll pass through a network of
small towns and villages. Each one has its own appearance and ambience. Stop by
for lunch and to enjoy a coffee. Having a car also lets you travel further
afield to explore Roman ruins and the mountainous landscape in the French Alps
as well.
Don’t neglect the history
France has a rich
history spanning millennia. Roman ruins fill the landscapes around Provence.
North France provides an insight into World War Two and the chance to visit the
places you read about in your school history books. Most tourists miss out on
this part and prefer to spend their time taking photographs in the metropolitan
cities. But with a dose of history, you can get a much deeper understanding and
appreciation of France. If you decide to explore the past, it’s recommended to
get a guide. Tour guides provide so much more value and insight compared to
visiting alone.
Attend a festival
Festivals and local
events take place on an almost weekly basis ranging from film festivals to Christmas
markets to Mardi Gras. Visit in February and witness carnival parades. Plan
your trip to coincide with the Tour de France. Throw in smaller events like the
International Kite Festival. There’s always something going on. Get online and
search to see what’s happening when you visit. Joining in the festivities is
both fun and cultural experience.
Take the chance to experience rural France
Rural France consists
of undulating landscapes, fields and vineyards. Other parts has mountains, long
stretches of pristine coastline and the Alps. Rather than spending all your
time in the city, get out and see more of the countryside. You can rent a car
and drive along country lanes stopping off for a picnic en route. Or go hiking
in either the Alps or Pyrenees Mountains. You can find yourself in the
countywide within less than 30 minutes of most cities. Take the chance to see
the best of France’s natural beauty.
Explore neighbouring countries
If you’re flying
halfway across the world to visit France, why not explore some of her
neighbours. France is part of the Schengen Agreement, which means you can
travel to 26 countries on the same visa. If you’re in northern France, head
over the border to either Belgium or Germany. Take a day trip to Geneva or
Basel in Switzerland or drive into Italy from Southern France. Or you can visit
the tiny micronation Andorra high in the Pyrenees Mountains. You won’t have the
time to visit everywhere, but it’s always nice to see somewhere different.
Public transport in Western Europe is extremely efficient, and high-speed
trains can get you from one city to the next in a few hours.
Having an awesome vacation to France
France is among
Europe’s most beautiful countries. You can visit romantic cities one day and
spend the afternoons in Vineyards the next. Relax on the beach for a day or two
before hiking in the mountains. France has a lot to offer in terms of travel
experiences, activities and culture. Make the most of it.
It’s that time of year (and I am so grateful, summer is my favorite and I was getting really tired of the dreary winter weather). I have been itching to get outside and start working on my yard, my flowers, my porch and deck, and I have so many awesome ideas that I’ve found that I had to share them! You can make same great outdoor home improvements without spending an arm and a leg!
Put Up a Pergola If you have an outdoor dining area you can put up a pergola that will not only make it gorgeous, but also give you some needed shade on those hot summer days. You can also hand a few lights with it to finish your look and it will be a gorgeous addition to your outdoor cookouts and dinners.
Multi-Use Furniture Get a piece of furniture that can be multi-use. Furniture with built-in storage (it gives you seating and hides away your accessories for the yard or pool without looking messy) or a lounger that can be used for a bench as well.
DIY Seating If you don’t have the budget for furniture – don’t worry! You can use low cost concrete blocks and cover them with a foam pad and pillows. I have seen people use this for seating around a firepit (just take the cushions and pillows in when it rains, or in the winter)
Lighting Outdoor lighting is my favorite part of summer decorating. They are fun and pretty, and it gives you just enough light – its like stars in your yard! You can get outdoor lighting pretty cheap and they come in lots of different colors and shapes and designs. You can put them on your porch, wrap them around a tree, or even make an outdoor oasis and have them circle around your entire yard/porch. Don’t forget to add some to any outdoor dining areas. I love the lights we have on our outdoor table!
Decks
Though it can be a bit more expensive than my other ideas, a deck can be a long lasting investment not only into having a wonderful summer, but value to your home as well. Places like Decks & Docks Lumber Company offer some great deals on railings, hardwood and accessories
Landscaping/Hardscaping I love walkways and edging made with stones and rocks. Because it is a bit more expensive, you can just select a smaller area to make gorgeous. I have an idea to include some stone around my flowers – it really just makes the flowers pop!
Trellis Depending on the layout of your yard/porch and driveway or street you may want to consider a trellis. They can be a gorgeous addition that separates your oasis from your driveway or street without blocking the gorgeous view of your yard.
Outdoor Rug I never thought I was one that wanted to deal with an outdoor rug, but it can really pull your look together (plus it makes it a lot easier to go barefoot).
Miss Sassy pants enjoyed playing in the water too – we do hike quite a bit, so I think she was shocked there was actually water she could play in!
The boys love to climb on anything and everything, so we allowed them where it was permitted.
