So last year I started seeing milkshakes everywhere. All on instagram people were posting these epic and delicious looking milkshakes. They were massive. They had everything you could imagine on and in them. They were gigantic.  Topped with any type of candy you could coordinate to match in color or theme, I was like, "You know I gotta make one...or two". And so I did.  Or at least I attempted to.

Truth is, my four candy loving kids would not touch the things. They looked at them like I had committed murder of precious, beautiful candies and they had just wandered onto the crime scene. They would not even take a sip.



My oldest looked at my horrified and said, "No way am I eating that coma."

I looked at the milkshakes, all the blood sweat and spilled milk that I had put into creating it and realized it was a bit much.

My kids stood around the milkshakes, took a piece of candy and left the room.



My poor melting abstract masterpiece stood alone, against my homemade backdrop, anticipating its demise.

Are people actually finishing these things? It seems so wasteful, as I tried to salvage my poor milkshakes and put them in the freezer...only to have to throw them out the next month. Seriously, my 13, 14, 15, and 18 year olds wanted nothing to do with it.



I failed at this one. Not only did they not eat it, it was hell to put together. Try taking photos....it turned into a mushy mess of milk, soggy candy, cake and ice cream.

I don't think I will make these again. They are pretty and nice to look at but then you think of all the sugar, and I remember how even four kids would not even attempt to finish or even try one, and I have to give it a pass.



But gosh darn if they are not a feast for the eyes.

We are preparing for a really cold day tomorrow so that has my mom in the kitchen preparing her homemade chicken noodle soup for dinner tonight. While we all bundle up and share our day over a bowl of soup, I thought it would be nice to share some other warm bowls of goodness that I have pinned on pinterest.

Make dinner a warm and soothing soup or stew night!

One of the things I look for when searching recipes on line is how many people actually tried it and if they liked it.  That is one of the reasons why I post when I try a recipe from someone else or even adapted from someone else. I want to be helpful and let them know how it was for me. Well, today I have another hit that is quick, easy and simple : Dinner Rolls found at Real Mom Kitchen.


Of course, I have made it no secret that I love bread. I made two dozen of these today and tonight ending up having to make two dozen more because my kids had INHALED them all at dinner time. When the kids did not leave so much as a bread crumb, this mama knew this was a winner.

And it is so easy!  So if you are looking for a quick and easy dinner roll recipe to make for Thanksgiving, give these a try. These have already been added to my recipe book for my kids.

Hi. My name is Divian and I am a breadaholic.

I love bread. I am one of those people who firmly believes that a sandwich is only as good as the bread you make it with. I always go for rolls and baked loaves instead of the typical sandwich bread.

Although I love bread, I am no baker. I can bake a mean biscuit but hey, I am in the South and biscuits are easy. Imagine the thrill (and apprehension) I felt when I decided that I wanted to learn how to make homemade bread.  I tried the artisan crusty bread first....needs tweaking. Then I came across this bread....from Farmgirl Gourmet.



It looked amazing. Could I make it? Could I get it to look like hers? Would it taste good? I was going to try and try I did.



Although it does not look like hers believe me it tastes AMAZING. Everyone who tried it said they did not need anything to go with it...they were tearing into it like wolves! The first batch was gone in minutes. Today I made two more loaves and I had to fight everyone off.

Seriously....it is just that good. A slightly sweet white bread that is not dry and is just heaven in your mouth.



I would definitely recommend anyone who is interested in breadmaking to try this recipe from Farmgirl. I have already decided this will be on the Thanksgiving table.

I have a bit more practice so that I can get that smooth and noncracking top, but hey even though it is a bit ugly, it tastes like I went to school for this stuff lol


Also, google Challah and read up on the symbolism of the bread. Definitely interesting and makes it even sweeter.

Here in the South, when it starts cooling off, all the pots come out. No more humid and sweaty summers swatting 'squitos and box fans, we gear up for soup and stew season.

It is still somewhat hot down here, but occasionally we get a cool breeze and witness a few leaves falling to the ground. That is more than enough reason for us to get ready for fall and winter and start gearing our pots up for warm gooey, soupey, stewey goodness.

One of our staples at my house during the cooler months, is gumbo.  It is a cajun dish with a roux base and loaded with okra, tomatoes, shrimp, chicken and sausage.

It is not the easiest dish to photograph, but oh it is so comforting. We usually serve with some saltine crackers and with some rice.

Here are some that have caught my eye on the internet. Hopefully, I will photograph some this fall and share my mom's recipe for it with you. Until then, consider adding this to your fall and winter meal rotation.

Of course, Pinterest has become a go to place of inspiration. I find things I like all the time. I also like combing the internet for new things and pinning to my boards.

We have only just barely stepped into September but it is now time to think of Halloween. I am excited. If you take a peek at my Halloween inspiration board on pinterest, you can get an idea of the things I like.

Feel free to follow this board for continued inspiration that I find as we get closer to finalizing those Halloween plans!

Follow Divian's Halloween Board on Pinterest.

Here in the South, it gets HOT. We love our slushies, our ice cream, and our popsicles. We absolutely love them.

Here are some popsicles I found on pinterest that caught my eye. Oh yes, will make. ASAP.

So I have been scowering pinterest for Easter inspiration. With it right around the corner, I have been busy coming up with a few recipes to share. While looking, I started to venture away from recipe inspiration and towards table inspiration. My mother grew up with her mother always decorating the house for holidays. Not just a centerpiece, my grandmother went all out. She FULLY decorated every room to reflect the holiday. While my mom does not decorate the entire house, she loves setting her kitchen and dining room tables with a holiday inspired centerpiece. Pinterest seemed the most logical place to share some ideas with her.

I found some really cool looking stuff. While the cabinet in my kitchen sits stuffed full of Easter candy, plastic green grass and jellybeans, these tablescapes put what I could possibly muster together to shame. I think I may need to step up my game. lol

I absolutely love pinterest. I have the Chrome button installed in my browser so I can pin no matter what site I am on. It is just so darn easy to do and I love that it saves all my favorites in one organized spot!

I did not do Thanksgiving dinner. I was out of town photographing for a commercial client and did not make it back until the late evening before Thanksgiving. I am so thankful that my mom stepped in and threw down in the kitchen! She put  her foot, arm, leg and head in that meal! YUM!

Since she helped me out and did Thanksgiving, Christmas dinner is up to me. I have been pinning like a mad-woman thinking of ideas and thought I would share my finds with you. I want to go a different route than we usually go so I have pinned some things I have never ever ever had that I really want to try: *cough* beets *cough*

Check out my pinterest board for Christmas Dinner ideas and inspiration from some of the best food blogs and sites around!

Follow Divian Conner's board Christmas Dinner on Pinterest.

So, I admit...I am a pinterest addict. I don't pin everyday, but by golly, I do find the time to check out pinterest daily. I am all over the place when it comes to browsing the vast world wide web.  I look at everything from children's party ideas, food and recipes, clothing and style trends...to now as of late, back to school lunch boxes.

I mean seriously, there is so much to pin and so little time! So while I sit here, typing, kids are in the living room each doing their own thing before we get dinner ready, I am going to share some of the things I have pinned in the last week.

Here we go!
(photos link to the source!)