Hello friends! Are you gearing up for the long holiday weekend? The daily temps are already climbing into the 110’s + here in Phoenix and in the afternoons, if I turn on the stove, my kitchen feels twice as hot. So I am relying on my crock pot and grill for many of our meals. One of my quick go to summer dinners is kebob’s. You gather up whatever meat and fresh vegetables you have on hand and chop them up into large pieces. This is a great dinner to get kids involved in. They love the colors ... View the Post

These candles were so fast to create and very inexpensive too. Keep reading for the fast and easy tutorial. A favorite pastime for our family is collecting seashells. I selected a few that had been gathered from previous outings but you can find seashells at craft and thrift stores. Make sure they are clean and then place them on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper or foil. Using citronella candles from the dollar store simply pop the candle out of its thin tin votive holder. Turn ... View the Post

So I am about to let a big cat out of the bag. As you read this I am probably looking at this: Or perhaps this: Any guesses where I might be? How about another hint? Yes. I am in Provence. Over two years ago I had made plans with my cousin L. to celebrate a milestone birthday of hers in France. For over 2 years we have been reading guidebooks, researching cities and conspiring on how we would spend our days. L. is considering purchasing a small home in the Provence region and ... View the Post

My friend Tracy recently came for a visit and brought me a large bag of beautiful Meyer lemons from her backyard. They are so good I didn’t want to waste one single bit. Tracy grows her lemons organically so they only needed a quick wash in a water/vinegar bath. Once dry I used a zester to created thin strips of lemon peel. Then I made 1 tablespoon piles on a plate and popped them in the freezer. Once frozen I placed them in a freezer bag where they will stay fresh for months and I can ... View the Post

Have you heard about hydroponic gardens? My brother, R.C. has had one in his backyard since last fall. As Sweet Boy was working on the “Gardening” merit badge in Boy Scouts we have been closely monitoring the gardens progress. It is a fantastic project to create. You can grow any type of fruit or vegetable in a hydroponic garden that you can in a regular garden. Hydroponic gardens have been around since the 17th century. My brother recommends the book “Aquaponic Gardening” by Sylvia ... View the Post

A few weeks ago I shared a small portion Sweet Guy’s bathroom that also doubles as our guest bath. I recently added one small touch. The bathroom is a rather small space that doesn’t have any windows or architectural charm.  I had hung a nice seaside oil painting for the wall area next to the sink but felt like there was still a large expanse of empty space below. I found an basket at Homegoods that had a rustic/industrial feel that I thought might work perfectly. At the same time I ... View the Post