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…
We love to camp at our house, but sometimes it’s hard to find the time to get away for a real camping weekend or the weather just won’t allow it. For times like this, the kids can still have a lot of fun by having an indoor camping party. It is really just a matter of…
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…
This post was sponsored by Boston Scientific as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. It’s time for some heart healthy snacks! Americans love to snack, but this type of food is often filled with fat, sugar and other not so good for you…
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…
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…
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.…
Have you ever been in a garden setting and wondered how to identify a plant that you have just come across? So have I! That is where the PlantSnap mobile app comes into use. With this handy phone app, all you need to do is snap a photo of the plant, and PlantSnap will give you suggestions…
T’is the season for all things yummy. Unfortunately, that might mean t’is the season for extra pounds too! This delicious recipe for apple crumble baked apples gives us the best of both words. This yummy dessert has the delicious taste of apple crumble pie with a few slimming tricks that I have up my sleeve. This…
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…
These Paleo Grilled Pork Chops have an amazing flavor that comes from a marinade before cooking and a sauce that gets added once the chops are grilled. The recipe is summer time cooking at it’s finest. It is one of my favorite gluten free 30 minute meals! This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias,…
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…
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 far more pleasurable. These summer garden tips will ensure that you have an endless supply of color and lush green lawns all summer long.…
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 are some mornings when I have all the time in the world, and other mornings when I just can’t get out the door quick enough. On busy mornings like that, I love to have a delicious treat that I can use as a breakfast on-the-go. These Blueberry Granola Bars fit that bill nicely and…
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, MARS Incorporated. All opinions are mine alone. #SpringMoments #CollectiveBias It’s time to build an Easter Basket with Clues! When my daughter was a little girl, we always had a normal Easter egg hunt for her, but as she got older, and she no…
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 shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PilotYourLife #CollectiveBias It’s time to make a DIY Pen Roll! The summer gives us a chance to recharge and spend some time with families, since most kids have time off through the summer months. But it’s also a time…
