Welcome back to our New Blog… Inspired Living.

This second edition of IL is all about Father’s Day for the special man we call DAD; our hero, best friend and in-house comedian. In this edition, we will highlight gift ideas for every kind of Dad out there, present a Father’s Day Sunday picnic idea and also share a fool-proof Guinness Cupcakes recipe! We hope you enjoy this edition as much as we had fun preparing it for you! Happy reading!

The month of June also happens to be Men’s Health Awareness Month so this is even more of a reason to celebrate Dad and show him we care not just about him, but his health and wellbeing too!

For this Father’s Day, why not gift Dad something extra special that is not only sentimental or useful, but health-conscious too! Assist him in scheduling a doctor’s appointment. He may be hesitant but remind him of the importance of good health. With good health comes flexibility, happiness and no disruptions to his regular life; essentially encouraging him to do the necessaries to continue living on his own terms. 

The info-graphic below highlights some easy to follow health tips to share with Dad to keep him on track to living the good life inside and out:

Gift Ideas for Every Kind of Dad

Entertainer Dad
He’s the life and the party and is always looking to celebrate something at home. Be a good sport and gift him all the functional and stylish tools he’ll need to throw an amazing party! A bar cart, wine glasses and a patio umbrella for outdoor hosting are just a few choices available to choose from.

Office Dad
It took Dad plenty of sacrifice and passion to get where he is today all in the name of providing for his family. His office is his haven where he spends a lot of  time. A little sprucing up of the space is something he’s sure to appreciate. Get him a new writing desk or an accent chair for relaxed seating. Does he like fishing? How about a decorative ceramic fish to utilize as a paper weight on his desk. It’s functional and will also bring about family memories every time he sees it!

Couch Potato Dad
Dad is a couch potato in the most innocent and cherubic sense of the term. He loves his television and can vegetate there the whole weekend if he could! Here’s an idea…let’s get him super comfortable for his games and movies! A new recliner chair and sleek coffee table are sure to do the trick to prop up his popcorn, books and everything else he wants to rest there! Or how about an outdoor chair for those lounge-in-the-sun kind of days? Yes, you know we’ve thought of everything for relaxing at home!

Father’s Day Sunday Picnic

A Father’s Day Picnic this Sunday sounds DELIGHTFUL! You want to plan something extra special for Dad but without the headache. To save you the stress, we’ve put together a simple vision board (above) highlighting all you’ll need for a lovely family picnic under the sun. 

The Casablanca Outdoor Furniture Set seats many individuals comfortably and is currently available in a rich pear green colour. For the drinks and bartending, we have the perfect surface, the Iron Mountain Block Bar with a convenient foot rail if you plan to have seating there as well! 

Charcuterie and cheese boards are very popular as they should be! Lay out all the tasty goods with the 3 Bowl Entertaining and Stilton Cheese board sets. Of course, we have a wide selection of whiteware you can shop right here. 

It’s Dad’s day so a toast is definitely in order! Say cheers to your favourite guy in the world with these Lenox Stemless Wine Glasses! 

And let’s not forget your Cantilever Umbrella to protect you from the UV rays! 

Need more assistance with planning your Father’s Day set up? We’re here for you in person at the store, or just give us a call at (758) 450-0122 or 717-0122. 

Guinness Infused Cupcakes

Credit: SallysBakingAddiction.com (Of course we had to try it for you…and it’s SO GOOD!)

Method: 

1. In a small saucepan, bring the Guinness to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce to medium heat and allow to simmer until reduced down to 2/3 cup, about 20 minutes. Set 1/2 cup aside to cool for 10-15 minutes before using in the cupcake batter. While it’s warm, mix the rest of the reduced Guinness (about 2-2.5 tablespoons) with the 2 teaspoons of espresso powder used in the frosting. Set this mixture aside for step 5. You can do this step 1 day ahead of time if needed. Refrigerate overnight. Bring reduced beer to room temperature before using in both the cupcake batter and frosting.
2. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners. Line a second pan with 4 liners – this recipe makes about 16 cupcakes. Set aside.
3. Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl until thoroughly combined. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the oil, brown sugar, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla together until completely smooth. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, add the 1/2 cup (120ml) reduced Guinness, then whisk until *just* combined. Do not over-mix. The batter will be on the thinner side.
4. Pour or spoon the batter into the liners. Fill each 2/3 full to avoid spilling over the sides or sinking. Bake for 19-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Don’t over-bake, which will dry out the cupcakes. Begin checking for doneness at 19 minutes. For around 36 mini cupcakes, bake for about 11-13 minutes, same oven temperature. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
5. Make the frosting: Have the Guinness/espresso powder mixture from step 1 handy. In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the butter on high speed until completely smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the icing sugar, cocoa powder, milk, reduced Guinness/espresso powder mixture, milk, and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds then increase to high speed and beat until combined and creamy. Taste. Add a pinch of salt if desired. If you want the frosting a little thicker, add 1/4 cup (30g) of icing’ sugar.
6. Frost cooled cupcakes with a piping bag and tip of your choice. If you don’t have those, layering the frosting on with a spoon or knife is fine! Leftover cupcakes keep well covered tightly in the refrigerator for 3 days.

For more tips on this recipe see this link: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/guinness-chocolate-cupcakes/ 

Thank you for reading! Wishing everyone a safe and festive Father’s Day weekend! Continue to live the good life on the inside and out. 

Much love and light from all of us!