Gluten Free Granola

Right after we started staying in one of my friends texted me to let me know she had left a happy in my mailbox.  A happy?  I think I immediately ran out to check and found a darling glass jar filled with homemade granola.  I love granola and eat it all the time on so many things.  Most often it is on my oatmeal and mixed into my cereal but I also at times just eat it as is.  I was so excited, especially when she told me it was gluten free.  I immediately opened it and tried it and was absolutely in love.  It is sooo good.

In The Meantime ...

Anyone thinking that a lot right now?  I find myself saying it a lot.  As in ... I need to have the dutch door ordered and cut ... but in the meantime I will clean out the laundry room. And also ... I can't wait to have friends over on the deck ... in the meantime I will sort and clean out the bar area.  Yep, I say it a lot every single day.

Shopping Small Means Everything

I can't not think of a better time to support our community than the time we are in right now.  It is definitely unprecedented and scary and I worry about all the shops and restaurants and how they will make it work for them.  Will my precious family owned donut shop be ok?  Will my family owned dry cleaners with two darling girls fare alright?  Will the restaurants we love so much in our neighborhood be able to make it?  How about the small stores and businesses?  I know they must be heavy with thoughts about their people and their bills. I think about them all the time.  ❤

Quarantine Q +A ...

Just as you all are I am truly concerned about life right now.  It is weird, strange and truly has no rule book or manual.  Just like you I am taking things one day at a time and some days are good, some are odd and some are not the best.  I am truly so thankful Nathan is home and safe and his first doctor visit showed a solid and wonderful blood report as he was suffering from sinus stuff with the pollen.  I let my mind run the course and it was not fun.  I have had to remind myself many times that I am called to live in the day and if I need more to just live in the moment I have.  I have had to redirect my mind and my attitude a lot, but I am ok with that, since that is where the growth comes.

Dress To The Decor ... Blue + White

If you follow my friend Mary Huddleston then you know I just "borrowed" her saying, but I didn't think there was a better title for dressing for an event.  She pretty much nailed it with her Dress To The Decor phrase and I most definitely borrowed it.  When working with other creatives we always try to coordinate our outfits to make it cohesive.  For yesterday's spring table with Frontgate both Mary and I wanted to wear blue dresses.  I am not going to lie, there was some serious contenders for the shoot and I will share them all with you.  As you can see we both loved our choices ... but I bookmarked some great options for later, which I am sharing with you today.

Because ... a blue dress literally goes with anything at all!

Frontgate Blue + White For Spring

The moment my Frontgate catalog came and I spotted the new table linens I immediately started envisioning it as a fabulous spring table.  Those amazing blue flowers with so many shades of blue included were just calling for some pretty dishes and an outside venue. With a trip to Nashville planned I could not think of a better reason to pack up my new linens and set a table with my dear friend Mary in one of the prettiest outdoor settings I have seen. Now that we are all staying in I keep going back to this table in my head ready to plan a spring dinner with all our friends enjoying the weather and the peace of knowing the worst is behind us.

It will be a few weeks or more, but I am holding steady to the vision. 💙

Irish Mule

Anyone else ready for a yummy drink right about now?  I recall about this time yesterday after my son had asked so many times if I could explain something geometry to him that I was zero percent qualified to help.  I am sure my oldest who I made him call needed a cocktail about that time too.  Bless his electrical engineer, physics and math loving heart.   Sigh ...

Irish Blessings For All

We may not be Irish but you can definitely count on us celebrating every single St. Patrick's Day as it is the day our love story began.  In March of 1993 a cute co-worker popped his head into the door of my office and invited me out to share a plate of nachos + a green beer at the nearby Church Street Station.  I remember looking at him and thinking ... why not?  Well, one large plate of nachos, two beers later and a walk back to the office and I may have fallen in love.  I had known this co-worker for more than a year at this point and watched his incredible work ethic and loyalty in action and I recall thinking he would be one of my friends for life.  

Little did I know ... 😉💚