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
How To Strip and Refinish Furniture
If you've ever thought of refinishing an heirloom, stop right there and think no further. Learning how to strip and refinish furniture can be intimidating. Below you'll find my step by step instructions on how you can refinish furniture to it's original beauty. Transforming a historical piece of furniture into a preserved beauty could not be easier with today's woodworking tools, penetrating stains and choice of varnishes. So what keeps people from refinishing down to the bare ... READ MORE
Simple & Easy Homemade Granola Recipe
I delight in this easy homemade granola recipe.There is something about that crunchy wholesome cereal that just gets to me. I could literally eat it anytime of the day and for any reason. Buy what exactly is traditional granola? Rolled oats and sweetener baked until crisp and served with milk, fruit, yogurt or eaten plain as you hike up a mountain. Granola had its beginnings in 19th century America, but it really became popular during the hippie movement when fruits, nuts and all things ... READ MORE
Summer On The Farm with Guardian Repellent
This is our first summer at our new home. The kids have been enjoying the wide open spaces and are barefoot quite often. But with spring turning into summer - the bugs have started to arrive making for itchy frustrations.Ticks here. Ticks there. Ticks everywhere. If your experience has been like ours this summer, you've been having problems with ticks. I've pulled a tick off my neck and both of my sons have had ticks that had to be removed. Ewwwww! However, I'm not going to keep my ... READ MORE
The Best Banana Cake Recipe
The Best Banana Cake Recipe This is the best banana cake recipe with no eggs or dairy, but you can adapt it with regular milk if you'd like. I changed the type of flour, substituted coconut oil and decreased the sugar. Feel free to add in oats, flax seed or chopped toasted pecans if you're up for it! As long as you keep true to the marriage of chocolate and banana, this cake is sure to be a lovable addition for your recipe box.Chocolate and banana complement each other well, don't you ... READ MORE
Easy Homemade Strawberry Shortcake Recipe
There is something about a fresh strawberry from the garden. You just can't get the same taste in the grocery store. This time of year in Ohio, the strawberries are beginning to ripen! And you know what that means? Strawberry shortcake! This easy homemade strawberry shortcake recipe has been in my family for years and years. I remember making it when I was a little girl.My dad has grown strawberries in his garden for the last seven years. When he found out we were pregnant with our ... READ MORE
Watermelon Stars
Do you need a healthy, quick and easy snack or centerpiece for your patriotic cookout this weekend? I've got one for you that will be a big hit with the kids - and the adults too!Every Memorial day we travel to a nearby small town to attend their parade. But most importantly, they have the most beautiful ceremony following the parade at their cemetery. The kids lay flowers on the graves and many of the area children sing patriotic songs before taps is played and a moment of silence is ... READ MORE
Make Ahead Wine & Cheese Omelet Breakfast Casserole
Meet Carolyn TritchShe was one of those people with whom you may only know for a short time, but their friendship leaves an imprint on the rest of your life. I met her in 2004 about the same time I met my husband and she died in October 2007, just 5 months after she played piano at our wedding.Allow me to describe her to you. She was the kind of lady who preferred eating her cereal with heavy cream instead of milk and she was the kind of lady who would drive hours to experience an ... READ MORE
Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
Lemon. Refreshing and deliciously tart especially on a hot day. Our nights have been consumed with baseball practice and baseball games between the two boys. Therefore, I've been trying out new recipes that are easy to pack on the way to the ball park. These lemon poppy seed muffins do not disappoint. Made with ingredients I have on hand, they can be whipped together with no plan in place. That's how we're rolling this busy spring.The crumbly topping combined with the tartness of the ... READ MORE
