The Better Pear, Avocado, and Bacon Panini

 

I've been lugging my panini maker around college with me for the entire year, and like 90 percent of people with a panini grill or any kind of specialized kitchen gadget, I really have not used it as much as I expected I would. I saw it sitting in my cabinet all sad and dusty and decided I had to use it or sell it on Ebay. Not being one to easily part with kitchen gear, I decided to create a panini to share with you all. 

And what I came up with is officially my favorite sandwich of all time you guys! It is so delicious I can't even tell you.* The saltiness of the bacon and cheese is the perfect complement to sweet crispy pear slices. And then last minute I decided to throw in a couple slices of avocado because it's summer time, and I'm pretty sure there is an unofficial rule that all summer sandwiches must have avocado.

*Be careful. I really can't afford to be labeled as the catalyst for anyone's budding panini addiction. 

 

The Better Way to Kickoff the Summer

Summer has officially started now that I have completed all my finals and moved out of my dorm (who knew moving was that exhausting?) the fun can begin. To kick off the season of no homework and fun nights out, I spent some time with Mama G in Pennsylvania. 

We had many cappuccinos

Visited the Italian market in Philly and stocked up for all the cheese plates we made

The Better DIY: Dip-Dyed Anthropologie Pillow

My theory is that Anthopologie's home goods section is so popular because everything looks like it was made by the most talented and crafty person. With a few trips to Anthro, you can make your space look like you have a really sweet grandma with a wonderful eye for picking patterns and an unlimited amount of time to supply you with the most adorable quilts and throw pillows. 

Unfortunately, most of this charm comes at a not-too-charming price, and thus I decided to give it a go at making my own pillows for a fraction of the price. It was pretty easy since I used a sewing machine, but it could have easily been created by hand stitching. 

The water to dye ratio depends on how saturated you want the colors to be on your pillow. Play around with this, but remember to slowly add dye to achieve the color saturation you desire. Also, be mindful that when you rinse the fabric the colors will fade.