Mother’s Day is right around the corner. This easy kitchen gift basket makes the perfect personalized gift for anyone’s mother who loves to cook. It is filled with fun, whimsical and useful kitchen items that are made even more special by including items that are geared to your mother’s tastes. This easy kitchen gift basket…
Vegetable gardening is one of the great pleasures of the summer months for many gardeners. But for many of us, space does not allow a full outside garden. In cases like this, try growing a vegetable garden on a deck. So many vegetables can be grown in large planters and having the garden so nearby…
A fun thing to do at Easter is to have your child build an Easter Basket with Clues. This project is great for an older child to give them a more challenging hunt than a normal Easter Egg Hunt. Each year, at Easter time, I came up with printed clues to lead her from one…
If you have been reading my blog lately, you will know that I have written several posts on getting healthy. When the new year comes to an end, I like to focus on my goals for the year. I find that I have the most success when I keep health and wellness goals at…
April 14 is National Gardening Day. That means it is time to start thinking about ways to get your garden ready with these spring garden tips. Whether you are interested in vegetable gardening or just love to grow flowers, these tips will be helpful April is a special month for gardeners. Not only does it…
A Wine and Cheese party is so much fun! Pairing wine and cheese together is one of the great culinary pleasures. And making the pairing a party with loved ones and friends adds up to one special evening. The holidays are here and we are ready for a round of entertaining with our friends. That…
We all know that parchment paper is great for easy clean up after kitchen but it has so many more uses. These creative uses for parchment paper may give you some ideas you hadn’t thought of. I love anything that makes my life easier in the kitchen or around the home. I’m always on the…
These Halloween Pumpkin Cookies are the perfect treat for your family or neighborhood friends. They have a cute pumpkin face and are filled with rich chocolate frosting. I love this time of the year. Our neighborhood kids are out playing most of the time, and it is a lot of fun to treat them to…
If you study the habits of any gardener who has wonderful looking plants and shrubs, you will know that proper pruning is a key to their success. These pruning tips will help you make sure that your shrubs and garden plants will look their best, season after season. Done correctly, pruning will add to the…
Americans love to snack, but this type of food is often filled with fat, sugar and other not so good for you ingredients. If you are looking for ways to live a healthier lifestyle, this list of heart healthy snacks is sure to help keep you on the right track. Did you know that coronary…
An antipasto platter is a delicious combination of cheeses, vegetables and meats, usually served with good wines. It’s a great way to start an evening with friends and is very easy to put together. Antipasto, (the plural is called antipasti) when translated, means “before the meal.” Antipasti platters are meant to stimulate your guest’s appetite before they…
For many of us, the New Year means making a resolution to lose a few extra pounds that seem to magically appear during the holiday season. But losing some weight does not necessarily mean that you have to just eat lettuce and vegetables. There are many healthy kitchen swaps that you can use all year…
This Fall Entryway Makeover takes my front door and entry through from fall and right into Thanksgiving with natural elements and the rustic colors of autumn leaves, pumpkins and more. This post was sponsored by Lowe’s as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.…
Most gardeners love being out in the garden, but few want to see it as a chore. Even though the temperatures are getting cooler in most of the country, there are still lots of opportunities to make gardening easier. Make Gardening Easier by Following these 10 Tips With a bit of planning and a few…
Critters in the garden range from beneficial to invasive. Some actually are listed by the US Department of Agriculture as invasive pests that need to be controlled. See my tips for dealing with these unwanted bugs. This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of the United States Department of Agriculture – Animal…
When summer arrives, my goal is to spend as little time as possible in the kitchen. Lunch for me means that it is time for salad recipes. But forget boring “lettuce food” style salads. When I say salad I mean a bowl full of heart healthy goodness and an amazing dressing. This Hearty Chicken Sunflower…
These summer garden tips will ensure that you have an endless supply of color and lush green lawns all summer long. Bring on summer! Life is meant to be lived outside! We spend so much time outside during the summer, and having a great looking lawn and pretty gardens makes sure that time will be…
Roasting vegetables in the oven brings out their natural sweetness and this makes them a perfect addition to salads. This Roast Vegetable Salad has a lovely mix of roasted Brussels sprouts and butternut squash and it goes perfectly with the homemade creamy cashew dressing. Best of all, this is a 30 minute meal! This is…
I have such a busy life. There seems to never be enough time to get everything done that I need to do. Sound familiar? With the endless gardening tasks, also comes a need to take the occasional break, and what better way to do this than to relax with a soothing cup of tea? These…
There is just something really warm and inviting about a room with the look of a flickering candle in it. Using candles in the home creates an intimacy that sets a mood to a room and makes guests feel really welcome. Arranged pleasantly with just the right accessories, a candle can really transform the look of…
The vegetable and flower growing season is getting closer with each passing day. Here in NC, we have had unseasonably warm weather. It SEEMS that spring has sprung but I still don’t dare really get gardening in full steam in case we get a bit of a cold snap. Are you an avid gardener? If…
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TeaProudly #CollectiveBias It’s time to make some Burlap Tea Bag Jars. There is nothing quite like a good cup of tea, particularly when the weather is cold like it is right now. Drinking tea is so much more than…
I had a scare late last year that had me in the hospital for a few weeks worrying about my heart and my health. In the end, untreated high blood pressure was the culprit. I am managing it now with medication and diet, but it was a big wake up call for me. All of…
This recipe for Pan Seared Halibut with a Butter Dill sauce is a perfect way to serve this delicious fish, whether you are a gourmet cook or still finding your way around the kitchen. The sauce is mild but very flavorful and is made before the fish is cooked to make sure that the whole…
This post was sponsored by Smithfield as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. It’s time for a 30 minute pork stir fry. This is such a busy time of the year with all the holiday preparation, cooking and shopping to do. To combat…
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BoursinCheese #CollectiveBias It’s time to make some Cranberry Pecan Crostini Appetizers! Cranberries are one of those foods that always seem to find their way onto the holiday table. These lovely Cranberry Pecan Crostini Appetizers are the perfect appetizers to start…
