Upright and Caffeinated

For everything in life that keeps you on your feet! I share simple DIY projects and crafts, home decor ideas and helpful tips as well as easy recipes for week-night meals.

DIY Christmas Gifts

We are getting closer to Christmas and I want to share some of the best DIY Christmas Gifts I've seen online.  Some of these are super simple and some take a little more time and skill to make.  It is always so nice to give a handmade gifts at the holidays.  I love making personalized gifts for friends and family for Christmas.   DIY Christmas Gifts Sharpie Mug  These Sharpie Mugs are adorable.  Grab some inexpensive mugs and some Sharpie paint pens.  Search Pinterest for ... View Post

Meal Planning

I have a confession: I don’t have it all together.  I didn’t always have dinner on the table when my husband got home.  Some days he’d walk in the door, kids would be melting down, I’d be pouring a glass of wine and I would tell him to turn around and go get take-out!  That started happening about two or three times a week with terrible consequences.  Kids ate hot dogs a lot.  My husband and I started gaining weight since our favorite take-out places don’t necessarily specialize in health foods! ... View Post

Easy Appetizers

Hello!  I have a great roundup of delicious and easy appetizers.  Just in time for all of those holiday parties!  These appetizers are sure to please any crowd.  These appetizers are simple to make and require little to no culinary expertise.  They are popular with crowds and will definitely be a hit at your next holiday get-together! Easy Appetizers Bacon Spinach Blossoms    Baked Brie      Spinach Mushroom Tart      Luxe Cheese ... View Post

Candied Bacon Skewers

We love bacon in our house.  My youngest son will eat a side of bacon for a meal.   Although bacon has been on breakfast menus forever, it is becoming a trend to see bacon on dinner menus in the form of appetizers.  Recently, we went out to eat with my parents and had bacon skewers for a starter.  They were good, but of course, my mom said she could kick it up a notch!  My mom is an amazing cook who's philosophy is: A recipe is just a suggestion.   She is very innovative and creative in the ... View Post

Bar Stools Under One Hundred Dollars

Hey Friends!  I've been on the lookout for counter-height bar stools lately.  We are in the process of building a new home and we will have a huge kitchen island in this house.  I'm so excited at the idea of having a kitchen island, and especially one that is big enough for our entire family to sit and enjoy meals together.  The following bar stools under one hundred dollars are my favorites that I have found online! This post includes affiliate links to products.  I may receive a commission ... View Post

Natural Fall Wreath: Magnolia Leaves and Pine Cones

Happy Fall Y'all!  It is definitely getting cooler here in Northern Virginia.  The other day when my mom was in town, we went on a nature walk around our neighborhood and scored a ton of pine cones and lots of magnolia leaves.  I'm excited to share this natural fall wreath which I created using the magnolia leaves and pine cones we collected!   This natural fall wreath was fairly simple to make and literally didn't cost me a penny! What You Need Magnolia Leaves (You need a ton. ... View Post