February 29, 2012

Tailgate Recipe: Sweet & Tasty Dips

Why not mix it up a little at your next tailgate and make your desserts the dips! These three dip recipes are super easy to make and will be a hit at your next tailgate or game watching party.

S'Mores Dip


Ingredients:
11-½ ounces, weight Milk Chocolate Chips
14 ounces, fluid Sweetened, Condensed Milk
7 ounces, weight Marshmallow Creme
32 whole Graham Cracker Sticks



Directions:
Combine chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in a heatproof bowl. Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir until melted and smooth. Microwave for 10 additional second increments at a time if needed. Then use a spoon to mix until the melted mixture is smooth. Then dot the surface of the melted mixture with spoonfuls of marshmallow creme. Stir it slightly until the dip has desired marbled effect. Serve with graham cracker sticks.  Recipe Source: TastyKitchen.com

Chocolate Chip Dip

Ingredients:
1 -8oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup of butter, softened
3/4 c. confectioners’ sugar
2 T. brown sugar
1 t. vanilla extract
1 c. (6 oz) miniature chocolate chips
Graham cracker sticks or apples


Directions:
In a bowl beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Add the sugars and vanilla, beat until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips. (yields 2 cups)  Recipe Source: BargainHoot.com

Chocolate Fruit Dip


Ingredients:
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups whipped topping
Assorted fruit for dipping





Directions:
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in cocoa and vanilla. Beat in whipped topping until smooth. Serve with fruit. Yield: 2 cups. Recipe Source: TasteofHome.com

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February 27, 2012

2012 Clemson Football Schedule & quick note from our Sports Bloggess

Today the ACC (finally) announced the 2012 football schedule, and Clemson fans can finally plan their Fall. What do you think of the schedule? Which games are you most looking forward to?

Clemson 2012 Football Schedule

Date                                Opponent
Sept. 1 ----------------- #Auburn
Sept. 8 ----------------- BALL STATE
Sept. 15 ---------------- FURMAN
Sept. 22 ---------------- at Florida State
Sept. 29 ---------------- at Boston College
Oct. 6 ------------------ GEORGIA TECH
Oct. 13 ----------------- Open Date
Oct. 20 ----------------- VIRGINIA TECH
Oct. 25 ----------------- at Wake Forest
Nov. 3 ------------------ at Duke
Nov. 10 ----------------- MARYLAND
Nov. 17 ----------------- NC STATE
Nov. 24 ----------------- SOUTH CAROLINA

# - Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA

Read more details about the schedule on clemsontigers.com.

And here's a quick note from our amazing Clemson Sports Bloggess, Nikki Steele:

Great expectations often lead to even greater disappointment.

And, even two months can’t heal the pain for some.

Fresh off of a systematic dismantling of the Virginia Tech Hokies in Charlotte’s ACC Championship Game and a berth in the Discover Orange Bowl, Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers went to work preparing for their final opponent of the season- the West Virginia Mountaineers.

If you listened to the national pundits, you got the feeling that the January 4th matchup between two potent offenses may come down to which defense made a stop in the final minutes of the game. It was Clemson’s Tajh Boyd, Andre Ellington, and Sammy Watkins against West Virginia’s Geno Smith, Tevon Austin, and Steadman Bailey.

The first quarter of the Discover Orange Bowl went about as expected and then a freak play where the ball was stripped from Ellington’s hands as he appeared to cross the goal line changed the course for the rest of the night and into the early morning as the Tigers seemingly couldn’t do anything right while everything was going right for the Mountaineers as West Virginia went on to the 70-33 victory.

On that chilly Miami night, the Clemson “Shock the World Tour” ended with a shocked Clemson football team and an angry fan base.

But, let’s rewind to a year before- New Year’s Eve in Charlotte, NC where an upset Dabo Swinney and his team just lost the Meineke Car Care Bowl to South Florida after a valiant effort by Boyd and tight end Brandon Ford came up short.

Swinney promised to do everything in his power to right the ship and he followed that promise with the hiring of offensive coordinator Chad Morris who turned a stagnant offense into one of the most powerful offenses in the country.

This year, however, Swinney made the same promise, but it would involve firing a long-time friend and one of the first guys that he hired after becoming the head coach- defensive coordinator Kevin Steele.

Now, fast forward to a national coaching search and long-time Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables is wearing the color that he hates most- orange. Venables promised to bring in a simple system where Clemson defenders would play tough, physical, and disciplined defense.

Can seven months, a top-ten recruiting class, and a new defensive coordinator cure the ills of Tiger Nation and do orange-clad fans dare get their hopes up for what might be in 2012?

I guess only time will tell and September is just around the corner.

Post written by Clemson Girl sports blogger Nikki Steele.

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February 20, 2012

Flash Sale Sites - Are you in?

Have you heard of flash sale sites? If you answered yes, and you're already signed up, then you probably already know that these sale sites let you score major, major deals on brand name apparel, accessories and items for the home.

We have scored some great gameday worthy items from these sites for ourselves and for family and friends. Or you can also find perfect pops of orange and purple to include in your home decor.

Here's how the sites work - you sign up on the site with your email, then each day you get an email from the site sharing the day's sales. Typically you have 24 to 48 hours to shop the sales before they disappear off of the site. Signing up is free and there's no requirement to buy - you can 'window shop' as much as you like.

Brands range from the unknown to the popular (Lilly Pulitzer, Jack Rogers, American Apparel, etc.) to the high end (Versace, DVF, Coach, etc.). The prices are marked WAY down. An example? I have scored a $300+ dress for only $80!

If you haven't gotten on board with these sites, you must try them out. Take a look below as we break down our favorites...each includes our personal invite link so you can sign up!

Types of sales: Women's, Men's, Home items, Kids', Travel
Sales' start time: 11:00am EST
Returns: Can return for full refund (minus cost of shipping) or return for credit and Rue La La pays shipping.
Special Perk: Once you pay for shipping on an item, you get FREE shipping for any purchase in the next 30 days.

Types of sales: Women's, Men's, Home items, Kids', Beauty & Hair products, sometimes Travel
Sales' start time: Noon EST
Returns: You may choose to receive either a store credit for the purchase price of the item and free return shipping, or a refund in your original form of payment minus a $7.95 return shipping charge.
Special Perk: You can pay a yearly (or monthly) fee to get early access to the sales and shop before anyone else.



Types of sales: Women's, Men's, Home items, Baby & Kids, Taste (Food & Wine), City (city-specific deals), Travel
Sales' start time: Noon EST
Returns: Gilt offers two return options: (1) Gilt store credit with free return charge or (2) A refund in the original form of payment minus a return charge that covers the return shipping and the restocking costs for the entire shipment.



Types of sales: Women's, Men's, Home items, Kids, Beauty
Sales' start time: 11:00am EST
Returns: Returns in the US are eligible for HauteLook credit or a refund to your original form of payment. If you choose to receive a credit, return shipping is free. If you prefer a refund, return shipping is just $5.95, which will be automatically deducted from your refund.




Types of sales: Home Items, Decor, Stationary, Office supplies, Home Organization
Sales' start time: 11:00am EST
Returns: Items can be returned for a merchandise credit to only be used at Joss and Main, or items can be returned for a refund to original form of payment and the return shipping charges (if any) will be deducted from your refund.



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