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The Best Christmas Villages on the Internet

Saturday, November 4, 2023

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It’s that time of year where your home gets transformed from everyday to extraordinary. Lights, garlands, tiny villages and greenery rule the day. I”m going to share with you a few of my favorite Christmas villages that can make a big impression, ranging from pricey to affordab...
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The Easiest Vegetable Minestrone Ever!

Thursday, October 12, 2023

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This is the easiest and fastest minestrone you’ll ever make and the veggies combined with the pasta make a filling meal. I just made this up one night when I was desperate not to have to run to the grocery store and I had a few staples on hand. This is a great recipe to keep in your back pocket for nights when you need something nutritious but easy, and it kind of looks like you went to a lot of trouble...
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Plants for People Who Kill Plants

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Have you ever dreamed of a home filled with beautiful, lush plants but can't be sure of your ability to keep your little green friends alive? Well I've got a list for you of low maintenance, no-fuss houseplants that even a novice can maintain with minimum effort. In some cases you'll only have to water once a month, in others, weekly (but if you skip a week they won't keel over -- trust m...
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Kitchen Aid Mixers -- A History and Review

Thursday, August 3, 2023

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The KitchenAid mixer has held an iconic place in the American kitchen for decades, but you may be surprised to know it started out in 1918 as a 10-quart industrial size mixer, manufactured by the Hobart Corporation. Hobart had previously built mixers for the US navy and other industrial users, but the brand name KitchenAid was first available for home users via door-to-door sales from a mostly female...
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The Best Serena and Lily Dupes from Amazon

Monday, July 10, 2023

Do you love Serena and Lily's impossibly chic collection of home decor, but not the steep price points? I mean don't we all wanna feel a little California-fancy sometimes? To help I've compiled a list of the absolute best Amazon dupes for some of the most popular items from Serena and Lily. Read ...
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Decor for less -- Using Google Image Search

Thursday, June 8, 2023

This is a post that I think will be helpful to people looking for boutique items at more modest price points. I have a trick that I do every time I find an item at a boutique style store like Pottery Barn, Shades of Light, or Serena and Lily to name a few. I use use my mouse to right click on the item picture and save it to my photos and then use google image search to check the internet for the same...
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Houseplants by Mail from Amazon!

Saturday, May 13, 2023

I recently wrote a post about plants for people who kill plants, and I mentioned that I had recently purchased a Satin Pothos via mail from the California Tropical Amazon store. I was so pleased with the 6" plant that arrived that I purchased another, a 4" Hoya Pubicalyx. That plant came today and it's in great shape and seems large and healthy and I can't wait to re-pot. Hoya Pubicalyx 4"  Satin...
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Amazon Coastal Farmhouse Decor

Friday, May 5, 2023

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  Welcome to my Amazon coastal farmhouse round-up! I actually own several of these pieces and even though sometimes Amazon finds can be dicey, these were worth the money and all have decent reviews. Many of these items work for boho decor as well and can be mixed and matched seamlessly with other styles like modern rustic (think Studio McGee). Is it just me or have fake tulips come...
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Williams - Sonoma Marble Tiered Fruit Bowl Review

Friday, May 5, 2023

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 Before I buy anything online I research it for way too long and read all the online reviews and generally make myself crazy trying to determine if what I’m buying is A) Worth the money and B) Good quality. My mother taught me from a very young age that you get what you pay for in every sense of the word!  I actually bought this item in store to avoid the $75 shipping fee (this thing...
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Vintage French Copper Cookware

Sunday, April 30, 2023

 I'm here to let you in on the secret of cooking with tin-lined copper cookware, specifically vintage copper. There is a joy to working with quality cookware, something old that has lasted many generations, and countless cooks have used to serve sumptuous meals. Just ask Julia Child, the famous chef who cooked almost exclusively with copper cookware. I first became fascinated by cooking...
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Natural Silk Dyeing Tutorial for Taproot Magazine

Sunday, April 23, 2023

 If you're in to ad-free reading material with fun cooking and craft tutorials as well as heartfelt essays and recipes, then please check out Taproot Magazine! I wrote a natural silk dyeing tutorial for issue 56 entitled "Cultivate" on shelves now and available for purchase and subscription through their website.I've been dyeing silk for over a decade and sell rainbow silk sets in my etsy toy...
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Pottery Barn Odessa Rug Review

Saturday, April 22, 2023

  I love to review higher priced decor pieces here on the blog so others can decide if something is worth the investment and read an honest review of the item in question.  No one wants to shell out a thousand dollars for a rug only to find it doesn’t meet expectations.When I purchased the Pottery Barn Odessa rug in the 8' x 11' size I couldn't find any reviews online and bought it...
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The Best Coffee Table Books for Decor, Styling and Stacking

Thursday, April 20, 2023

 Using beautiful hardbound books as accessories in the home is not a new idea, but stacking books in vignettes around the house or on bookshelves can really kick your style up a notch. I’m here to take the pain out of searching and give you a few pre-made coffee table book stack ideas for your bookshelf, coffee table, or nightstand. Behold, above, my own favorite book stack that resides in my...
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Serena and Lily, A Tucker Chair Review

Monday, April 3, 2023

 The "Tucker" chair is a beautiful Windsor style chair that comes in six colors. I currently have six Tucker chairs in black at my own dining table and have had them since 2021. This is a Serena and Lily "Tucker" chair review for those interested in this petite yet sturdy farmhouse style chair. First of all, I don't baby chairs in my house, I have two teenagers and a 6' tall husband who...
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A Bit of Black -- A Coastal Farmhouse Dining Room

Saturday, March 11, 2023

 This is my current dining room above. The chandelier is from Wayfair, the table was made by my husband, and the chairs are the Serena & Lily “Tucker” chairs in black. The new floor covers an old linoleum that was here when we moved in that only be described as “giraffey.” The picture below is how it looked the day we moved in, old fashioned chandy and all.2014, move in day  We’ve...
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Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Gluten and Lactose Free

Sunday, February 5, 2023

  I found this recipe on MyGluten-FreeKitchen and have altered it slightly to meet my own lactose free and mama-in-a-hurry needs. I have omitted the white sugar and reduced the chocolate chips, because I felt the original recipe was a tad too sweet overall. I've also shortened the cooling time and increased the brown sugar just a tad. If you love a chewy, chocolatey cookie that doesn't go...
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