Over the past few years I've developed a passion for gardening. I've always enjoyed filling my home with indoor plants, but gardening outdoors was something I struggled with.
I dreamed of having my own cutting garden and enhancing the look of my yard. So I took that dream and began researching the internet. The internet is filled with forums to help you grow successfully. I found blogs to follow and lots of inspiration on Instagram. Then one day I stumbled across Steve, from Natchez Glen.
Natchez Glen is located minutes from downtown Franklin,TN. Steve the owner is an enthusiastic gardening expert. He is very knowledgeable and happily answers your gardening questions.
Earlier this summer, my daughter and I drove from Atlanta to attend one of his rose workshops. We learned about planting, pruning, how to control pests and tips to grow beautiful roses.
Steve grows roses and dahlias, as well as hundreds of unique and spectacular trees.
The property is beautiful; imagine picturesque rolling hills, blue skies and lush green grass.
If you're local, you can make a reservation to cut flowers into late October. My daughter and I had such a wonderful weekend in Tennessee. It was so neat to meet Steve and his family after following each other on Instagram. To learn more about Natchez Glen, please visit the website. You can also follow along on Instagram @natchezglenhouse.
Raise a glass to summer mocktails! This non-alcoholic drink is made with only 4 ingredients and ready in minutes. It's super refreshing as the days get warmer. It's all I want to sip on.
Here's how to make it...
Ingredients 1/3 cup Country Time Strawberry Lemonade Drink Mix 1 quart Club Soda Outshine Frozen Fruit Bar Ice Directions Slowly add club soda to drink mix in a pitcher. Stir until mix is dissolved. Then add ice. Pour drink into large glasses and place popsicle in each glass. Let the popsicle melt for a few seconds before serving. Top each glass with a lemon slice and add fresh herbs for garnish. Cheers! Hope you enjoy!
"Recent studies have shown that creative activities, such as baking, help people feel more relaxed and happier in their everyday lives. But in order to benefit from the mindful nature of baking, basic techniques must first be mastered."
With the help of Nielsen-Massey products, I'm excited to introduce you to “Better Your Bake” technique-based videos, tips and tools to help home bakers learn and master the basics of baking. Now through September, Nielsen-Massey is releasing new videos highlighting various baking techniques that, when mastered, will help you reach baking bliss.
To participate, I was invited to share a recipe inspired by a “Better Your Bake” tip.
Cooking with quality ingredients makes such a difference. Nielsen-Massey has been crafting the world’s finest pure and natural vanilla products since 1907. Although vanilla remains at the heart and soul of Nielsen-Massey, they also make a variety of other types of extracts, pastes, powders and sugars.
Homemade ice cream tastes best and once you've had homemade caramel sauce, you will never want the stuff in a jar again! Made with Ugandan Pure Vanilla Extract, it adds a rich, smooth flavor. So easy and delicious! This vanilla is versatile, making it an excellent all-purpose staple for a range of baking and cooking applications. It pairs especially well with chocolate, caramel and citrus dishes.
In the heat of summer, this recipe will help you cool off.
Ingredients 1/4 tsp salt 2 tsp Ugandan Pure Vanilla Extract 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk 3 cups heavy whipping cream
Directions
Add ingredients to a food processor and blend until combined.
Pour mixture into a freezer-safe container and set aside.
Next, to make Browned Butter Caramel Sauce. If you're unfamiliar with how to brown butter, watch a short video to learn the best way.
Ingredients
1 cup granulated sugar
4 tablespoons salted butter
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tsp Ugandan Pure Vanilla Extract
Directions
Brown butter in a saucepan, watching closely. Remove from heat and add sugar to the pan, stir until melted. Add cream and slowly whisk. Add vanilla and keep whisking. Simmer for 1-3 minutes on low heat, whisking often. The sauce will thicken as it cools. Gently fold caramel sauce (according to your taste) into ice cream mixture and freeze until firm.
*This post was made possible through a partnership with Nielsen-Massey. All opinions expressed are my own.
Have you ever tried broiled grapefruit? Seemed weird to me!
This morning I decided to give it a try. I sprinkled cane sugar on each half and broiled them in the oven until the tops started to brown. Once I removed them from the oven, I drizzled them with lavender honey and a dollop of vanilla yogurt. It was a really nice change. Simple and delicious!
The next time we have overnight guests, I'm serving this for breakfast.
Spring means warmer nights! It's time to remove those heavy-thick layers and refresh your bedroom with a set of crisp white sheets.
I recently partnered with California Design Den to freshen up our guest bedroom with a set of new sheets.
I want our guestroom to feel cozy and comfortable, selecting quality sheets was the perfect start.
California Design Den has a commitment that comes to life in their products, which are crafted thoughtfully, beautifully, and sustainably with their customers in mind.
First impressions make an impact! The sheets came packaged in an eco-friendly box.
They even have a corner tag on the fitted sheet, to make it easier to make your bed!
The full elastic band on the California Design Den sheet ensures that the fitted sheet stays in place and fits like a glove.
Comfort is key to getting a good night's sleep. I really hope our guests enjoy the new sheet set. If you're in the market for quality sheets at an affordable price, I can absolutely recommend California Design Den!
I enjoy shopping for flowers while in the grocery store. But I always dreamed of having a cutting garden, where I could walk out to my yard and cut fresh flowers to bring into the house. Growing your own feels so rewarding. It's something I've always admired from afar.
A few seasons ago, I decided to get serious about gardening. I put together a list of the flowers I wanted to grow, then shortened that list to the flowers that grew best in my area; zone 7b. My favorite black-eyed beauty anemones were at the top of that list.
I ordered bulbs in the fall, thinking I'd plant them around my mailbox, where I'd be sure to see them as I pulled into the driveway. Each year since, they've put on a show. I was completely surprised they bloomed the first year I planted them. Their satin-like petals and long stems are truly my favorite. They're the first flower to bloom in my yard, as early as February.
I ordered my bulbs from Floret Flower Farm and found the tips shared on the planting guide to be very helpful.
This season I added a few more varieties and I'm anxious to see them blossom.
Anemones are simply stunning and easy to grow. I hope this post inspires you to grow your own!
Spring is near and I have so many things to look forward to! I’ve planted new flowers in my front yard, markets will be selling the freshest produce and I’ll be hosting my first themed dinner. I’ve had my fair share in hosting meals and parties at my home over the past few years, but I’d usually only invite family members and neighbors for a small celebration. This time around, I want to challenge myself and try my hand in hosting a delicious fare to welcome the season of new beginnings. I partnered up with Basic Invite to create the perfect start to an amazing spring dinner.
Basic Invite offers a multitude of options for all stationery needs, from storybook theme baby shower invitations, to thank you cards, to menus. The site provides total customization to fit any occasion.
Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows customers almost unlimited color options with instant previews online. Once you select a design you can change the color of each element on the card to over 180 different color options so you can make sure the card is exactly how you want it down to the littlest detail. This is what sets them apart from almost any other online stationery company.
For my spring dinner, I wanted menus that put flowers, my favorite part of the season, in the forefront and a background that could complement them. I could personalize the colors and font to capture the essence of spring while still maintaining a minimalist appeal. There were so many choices and themes I could choose from, but I happily settled on a fresh pink background with a flowery border.
Along with my menu cards, I made a few thank-you cards for my guests. Basic Invite steps outside of the box with their designs and has stationery for any and all people. None of their products are stagnant or out of style and you have total control with your masterpieces. Basic Invite is just as colorful with their envelopes as they are with their invitations. Customers can choose from over 40 different colors when it comes to their envelopes so that they can make their invitation stand out even before it is opened. All Basic Invite envelopes are peel and seal so the envelopes can be quickly and securely closed. Basic Invite also offers an address capturing service that allows customers to simply share a link on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other form of social media to request their friends and family’s addresses which will be stored in the customer’s account and can then be selected during the design process. Though it may seem small, having such classic menus and thank-you cards to match makes for a memorable dinner. Basic Invite makes me excited to have all of my close friends over for a night of good conversation and great food. If you are interested in taking your stationery to the next level, visit Basic Invite.
