Don't be afraid of this delicious kale salad recipe! It's packed with flavor with a simple five ingredient dressing and dried cranberries.The charisma for kale has been around for a few years now. More and more people are growing the nutrient rich cabbage in their garden these days. The most popular variety, curly leaf, is pictured here in my backyard this week where kale is in full bloom. Even though it has been around for centuries, people like me are learning to love its hearty ... READ MORE
Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Icing
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Pillsbury™. The opinions and text are all mine. Delicious pumpkin cookies seem to be one of those things I should be making year around. I love pumpkin, so why save it for one season each year? Am I right? I created an easy pumpkin cookie recipe and topped it with cream cheese icing to give it that over the top sweetness that goes perfectly with a tall glass of cold milk.These pumpkin cookies can be decorated fancy or with ... READ MORE
Homemade Tomato Basil Soup
Make a simple homemade tomato basil soup using 2 pounds of fresh picked tomatoes along with some onion, garlic, fresh basil and a good blender. Yum!I looked out my back window this morning and was elated to see clumps of bright red growing among the tall vines in our garden. The tomatoes are ready! The tomatoes are ready! With an abundance of juicy ripe tomatoes right now, it is literally the BEST time to incorporate them into meals. There is just no comparison between a tomato ... READ MORE
Laundry Room Renovation Makeover
Our farmhouse renovation included many rooms in our home. While our laundry room was not the most exciting at first, this makeover has quickly made it one of my favorite spaces in our house. It's now a functional space we use as a mudroom and laundry room that has personality to fit our old home. We achieved that personality with a fresh coat of EasyCare® Ultra Premium Paint that we purchased at a True Value.When our farmhouse started to take shape during the renovation, the laundry ... READ MORE
DIY Jewelry Ideas
I love, love jewelry, but most often, I find that jewelry is one of those things that can be expensive to buy, but inexpensive to create. And that got me thinking. Why not revitalize or recycle some of my old, tired pieces? Earrings that have lost their partner or unused chain necklaces with nothing to shine on them. Perhaps I'll even create new pieces along the way.Off to the craft store I went. I sought out the clearance section for jewelry overstock and gathered inspiration. I bought ... READ MORE
Our Day Trip To Put-In-Bay – via Miller Ferry
Last week we took off for a day of fun at Put-in-Bay. Put-in-Bay is an island in Lake Erie that's only a couple of hours drive from Central Ohio where I live. I've been there many times in my life, but this time I took the day away with the boys and my parents since my husband had to work. My mom says that when you board the Miller Ferry to head to Put-In-Bay, your blood pressure goes down about 10 points. I agree with her. You feel like you're a world away - but lucky for us it's only a ... READ MORE
Kings Island – The Ultimate Stunt Show
With the summer winding down (can it really be?) I've been trying to pack in everything we thought we would be doing all summer. Funny how summer goes like that. I had my list of staycation day dates I was going to take the boys on - one a week. Ha! I laugh as we squeezed two of them in this week, and they were the first of the summer. #momfail?That being said, we started out right. My hubby took the day off of work and we headed to Kings Island. It never ceases to amaze me that in this ... READ MORE
Lemon Blueberry Poppy Seed Bread With Lemon Glaze
Lemon and blueberries make a beautiful pair and with both fruits in abundance this season, I want to share my mouthwatering lemon and blueberry poppy seed bread with a simple lemon glaze. There is no shortage of lemon recipes out there, but when you add in the sweet and sour pop of fresh blueberries, you are on to something really special. It is both sweet and lemon tart and it's perfect for summer breakfast on the porch or a light dessert after an evening barbecue.The origins of this ... READ MORE
Farmhouse Bathroom Renovation, Before and After
This post was sponsored, and paid for, by SunTrust Mortgage. All opinions are my own.When we bought our farmhouse, most would have thought we were crazy. Looking at our bathroom renovation and the before and after pictures, I can see why. The carpet was probably enough to make anyone think they should run. However, with lots of planning and patience, we now have a beautiful space. It's exciting to buy a house and then create the home that fits your style. And while a renovation project ... READ MORE
The Best Spinach Dip Recipe
This gal loves a good spinach dip! There are many recipes out there, but to me, this one is the BEST. I created this recipe because although there isn't a spinach dip I don't like, none of them were the ultimate. Some were not quite creamy enough and others were lacking a bit in texture or flavor. Just one afternoon in the kitchen with a little of this and a little of that produced what I believe to be the BEST spinach dip out there. Sour cream, Greek yogurt and mayonnaise make it triple creamy. ... READ MORE
