We've Declared a Snow Day! ... Now What?

Remember 8 months ago how I passionately pledged that I would be more vigilant in maintaining the frequency of my helpful blog posts? No? *Whew* See what I reeeeeeally meant was that I would brainstorm imaginary blog topics as I lounged around the shop eating Christmas butter cookies long before the holiday season even began.
In a nutshell, I survived my first winter season as a shopkeep!!! I am now enjoying a much more leisurely pace (can it get more leisurely than stuffing my face with butter cookies?) as I gear up for the spring retail season. Keep your eyes peeled for French-inspired "brocante" additions, newly curated cottage decor and a whole new gaggle of handcrafted goods from mama artisans this Spring!
In even more exciting news, my fiance and I are officially gettin' hitched in a private ceremony in the mountains in September, followed by a dream-come-true honeymoon in Iceland and France. And while I'll likely spend my remaining years on earth paying off the cost of all the suitcases crammed full of French antiques that I plan on dragging back to the US, it'll be totally worth it to see the excitement on your faces when you see our shelves lined with baskets of savon de Marseilles, French enamelware, Parisian linens and my tears.
While I fritter away my days dreaming of spring in the countryside and summer in the south of France, I'm realistically brought back to earth to this Ice Age we are going through. Seriously though, the other day my pants froze to my body. Literally froze to my lower half.
Between the tundra outside and the flu epidemic inside, we've pretty much been housebound since Christmas, and we have the family bickering and stir-crazy four year old to prove it! In early December, we made the decision to reduce the shop hours and home-school our son until he starts preschool in the fall. This has been the most rewarding endeavor imaginable, and while I know homeschooling isn't for every kiddo, it has given "R" the confidence, comfort and one-on-one lessons that he's needed to define the perfect style of learning for him.
With a strategic spin on a standard curriculum, I've also woven in Montessori elements fostering personal independence, life skills and artistic development. A typical morning includes food preparation, daily teamwork (laundry, dishes, sweeping, taking care of the animals), hands on learning activities, sensory play, workbook exercises, crafts and memory games. Once a week we even go on a field trip (like the time that I told him That Fish Place was the aquarium...it was such a fun and *free* excursion on a small scale, and he got to learn about all the fish and mammals living there).
No matter where your little one goes to school, I wanted to share some of the fun and enriching activities we've worked on over the weeks because I'm sure we all need some inspiration and ideas for getting through this cold front with the kids!

Our all-time favorite activity this winter was making "snow" and candy cane playdough. "Snow" is easy as 1-2-3...take 3 cups baking soda and 1/2 c conditioner and mix it in a large bin or tupperware container until it's fluffy. You can add sugar cubes and little construction toys and reseal the bin with a lid for safekeeping. Plus, the conditioner will make your kitchen smell amaaaazing!
Candy cane playdough is made with 1 c flour, 1/4 c salt, 3 tbs fractioned coconut oil, 3 tbs lemon juice, 1/2 c boiling water, red food coloring, 2 drops peppermint essential oil and 3 drops bergamot essential oil. Mix until cool, then knead until smooth. It can be stored in a resealable tupperware container as well and smells just like a candy cane. Be sure to go easy with the essential oils since it's a kid-friendly activity!



Some of the best things about the holiday season are all the sugary pies, cakes and cookies! Sometimes it's hard to detox as soon as the New Year comes knocking, so I like to add apples or applesauce, grated carrots, honey or agave and raisins to my favorite quickbread recipe in lieu of all that sugar. This can be a great activity for kids to cut the apples (with supervision), measure the ingredients, count the raisins and eat *I mean, pour* the batter using a ladle or measuring cup. Plus, it fits in that whole "life skills" hooplah.

Another valuable and sustainable life skill to teach your kids about is recycling. Not only is it an environmentally friendly habit to have, but it is a fun and free sorting activity too! You can use actual bins or stop by the Dollar Tree and pick up this activity set that comes with stickers of all the things we can recycle. This activity covers plastics, aluminum, compost and paper/cardboard.


Keeping with the spirit of caring for our earth, we also try to make a feeder every week. As much as I love making the little cookie cutter bird seed ornaments (and not just because they remind me of cookies), those can get a little crazy for a four year old to attempt, so we just save biodegradable toilet paper rolls, slather them with peanut butter or honey, and roll them in bird seed. You can also look on Pinterest to find ways to use plastic bottles as bird seed feeders and hummingbird feeders. Take pictures of the nibbling birds that visit and identify them in bird books.

Got a bunch of leftover sugar cubes from your fake snow activity? Grab an empty egg carton and write numbers 1-12 on the bottoms, then have your little one use large plastic tweezers or tongs to drop sugar cubes in the cardboard wells. This encourages dexterity and exercises the sorting-counting part of the brain! Then you can recycle the egg carton in your recycling exercise. No sugar cubes? No problem! Use cotton balls, pom poms, dried noodles, etc.!




Now this is my favorite exercise because it is challenging and uses both flashcards and letter magnets to identify letters, numbers and objects. And it introduces simple spelling to younger kids and helps older kids practice their harder spelling as well. You can get basic flashcards at the Dollar Tree that cover shapes, colors and objects. Lay three out at a time and when your little one completes each level, they move to a level of three harder words. At four years old, my guy's attention span lasted for one level of three words, which is to be expected but I can see this being an activity that never runs out of creative possibilities. Using the number magnets would be a perfect way to teach mathematics.

Thanks for tuning into another edition of "See how many months of useless information I can cram into one blog post to distract you from the fact that I haven't updated anything since July - Now pass the butter cookies!" I hope everyone is enjoying their 2018, but if you're looking to live on the wild side and break a New Year resolution or two, stay tuned for our Craft Beer & Craft nights coming up at the shop!

Professional Etiquette for Aspiring Innkeepers: My Secret Recipe for Success

Are you an aspiring Innkeeper or just starting out in the business? Here are some of my own personal tips that will set you apart from your competition:

1. As highlighted in my recent post, a small Welcome Basket can go a long way in showing hospitality to your guests! Many guests are paying up to $400 for a night at your Inn, I’m sure it would be nothing to spend a few dollars and a little time to show your appreciation of their patronage.

2. Have a little cove where you can display local pamphlets, maps and coupon books for your guests to rifle through. Make sure that they are categorized by activity, presented professionally and contain current information.

3. Include a well-designed binder/folder full of the quirks/rules of the Inn, local delivery options, TV channel guide, WiFi password, and room service/package options.

4. Designate a preferred window of time for check-ins. Many Inns promise to be on-site between 3 pm and 6 pm, but I find that 3 pm to 8 pm is a more realistic window, especially for Friday evening. Keep an eye out for their arrival so they aren’t standing at the front door wondering if they are at the wrong house. Greet them warmly, shake their hands, call them by their names and congratulate them on their special occasion (this means finding out the reason for their stay when they book their reservation).

5. Provide them with dining out options and offer to make a reservation for them (especially since they will be exhausted from their travels). If they are celebrating a special occasion, jazz up a bottle of Champagne or box of truffles and place them on the bureau in their room. This will show that you are attentive and accommodating.

6. Ask about dietary restrictions/allergies at the time of booking. Many people who are restricted in diet are wary about staying at a B&B due to a reputation for decadent cuisine. Become proficient in gluten-free baking and diabetic needs and advertise this knowledge in your marketing. As far as your non-restricted food? Take the time to bake as much as you can from scratch and decorate it beautifully. People do not spend hundreds of dollars per night to be served muffins from a boxed mix and frozen quiches.

7. Find out their desired breakfast time when you check them in. This way, they won’t have to wait long for a hot breakfast, and you won’t get slammed by the breakfast rush all at once. I've seen people serve breakfasts in courses, but in my professional opinioin, anything more than a "Fruit" course and a "Main" course is anxiety provoking for the guests. Don't make them feel like they have to rush through their courses or sit through a longer breakfast than they anticipated. Plus, less courses, less dishes you have to wash.

8. Offer to put together an itinerary based on the nature of their trip. This way, they won’t be wandering aimlessly around a town, completely unaware of the amazing excursions that exist around them. This is an instance of going above and beyond the call of duty.

9. Leave your attitude at the door! I get it, we all have bad days, especially in the hospitality industry where you are pretty much married to your work. Time and time again, I read reviews about grumpy Innkeepers and it breaks my heart. Hospitality means making people feel comfortable, and you can’t do that with a sour-puss look on your face. If your heart isn’t in the business anymore and all you care about are dollar signs, please sell the business to someone who has the passion needed.

10. Cross-train your employees. I always see Innkeepers bending over backwards to clean 6 or 7 rooms a day, cook breakfast, do check-ins and handle the finances and that will burn you out quickly. Don’t be a control freak. If you hire an assistant Innkeeper or housekeeper, train them in ALL fields of your business instead of limiting them to scrubbing toilets and then complaining that you do too much. Teach them to prepare and plate the breakfasts, interact with guests, handle check-ins, run the gift shop, and reservation bookings. If something happens to you, God forbid, now you know that there is someone trust-worthy that can handle your pride and joy. This does not mean hiring an interim Innkeeper and making them an indentured servant. A good employee doesn’t quit the business, they quit the boss. Be a nurturing and compassionate employer who wants their employees to learn and grow, but also to run their business with professionalism and courtesy.

11. Maximize your Social Media presence. Join Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, everything! Link your blog to all of these and write at minimum one entry a week, which should not only highlight your Inn, but upcoming local attractions, food reviews and decor/style tips.

12. Respond to ALL reviews, not just the bad ones. If you do receive a bad one, DO NOT GET DEFENSIVE. Be apologetic and professional, and always offer a solution or alternative to their complaints to encourage them to give your business a second chance. When you receive a positive review, be gracious and enthusiastic for the guests' return.

13. Hairdryers, ironing boards/irons, and robes go a long way in terms of convenience for your guests. This will also warrant higher ratings from hospitality organizations reviewing your business. Also, consider featuring a gift shop area where guests can buy souvenirs, local products and extra amenities. Designate an actual section of your inn to display instead of strewing your product around the entire inn as "Decorations with Pricetags." Tacky.

14. Consider hosting weddings and events when your business starts to run smoothly. Special events can bring in wonderful revenue, provide stunning professional pictures for your website, and set you in a league apart from the rest. Form business relationships early on with local reputable caterers, cake designers, and party planners and attend workshops centered around event coordinating.

15. Identify your Inn's niche. If you want to market yourselves as culinary gurus, creative decorators, professional soap artisans, dog lovers, whatever you feel passionate about--set yourselves apart from the other run-of-the-mill inns in your area. Keep it simple and master your featured talent. Also, stay up to date with fluctuations and innovations in interior design. Replace sheets and comforters often, freshen up color schemes and revamp furniture when needed.

Join the "Inn-Crowd" with These Helpful Tips to Ensure A Memorable B&B Experience

June is a popular month for weddings, graduations and anniversaries. Many people make reservations at their tried and true hotel chains, or stay with friends (which can sometimes be restrictive of your privacy). While I love the predictability of a hotel or the comfort of an old friend’s home, I will attempt to open your eyes to an often underrated means of accommodation: a Bed & Breakfast (or an Inn).

Bed & Breakfasts are typically owned by a single person or a couple, and you are essentially being welcomed into their lavishly decorated home where they want to cater to you and give you the best experience possible. You would only be sharing their attention with approximately 6 other rooms, which is a pretty good ratio for getting individualized support. Innkeepers have been in the business for a long time and have hospitality down to a science. They know where to send you to get exactly what you want to eat (and will even make the reservation for you, since they know the owner). They can redirect you around traffic and point you in the direction of secret, locals-only hiking trails. They can plan a weekend itinerary for you filled with horseback riding and picnics in the woods, and have flowers and handmade truffles waiting for you in your room when you return. Large hotel chains may win you over with a warm cookie upon arrival, but consider this: When you arrive to a B&B, you are beckoned with lush, empyrean gardens and landscaping; stunning, ornate furnishings and soft, 1000-thread count sheets; doting Innkeepers, who are a wealth of knowledge about the area; and quite possibly, an entire oven full of fresh, warm cookies to greet you. You are guaranteed a gourmet
 breakfast and fresh coffee when you wake up, and by the end of your stay (if the Innkeepers have their hearts in it), you will feel like you just inherited a new extension of your family.

On the other side of the token, I do feel that B&B’s aren’t for everyone. Some people like to be completely secluded with minimal interaction with other parties, others want to accumulate their hotel travel points for valid reasons. I also believe that there are common misconceptions that surround a Bed & Breakfast. An attentive innkeeper will do everything in their power to ensure that you are provided a quiet guestroom to relax in. They will be open and honest about soundproofing quality and will not offer you a room above a noisy kitchen if they know you want a serene getaway to catch up on sleep. Some B&B’s offer family style dining, where everyone sits at a large dining room table for breakfast. I tend to prefer café-style tables set up in a large dining room so that patrons can have their space but still feel the energy of the morning bustle. If this is something that you prefer, be sure to read up on your dining accommodations so that you get exactly what you pay for. A hospitable innkeeper will also respect your intentions of enjoying a private getaway by being available to their guests but not intrusive.

Here are the key DO’s and DON’T’s when considering a B&B:

DO call the Inn before booking to address any specific questions you may have or ask about special rates.

DON’T try to intimidate or bully the innkeeper into giving you a discount. They usually only have on average 6 rooms to rent, and while they will most likely give you a discount on the weekday, a weekend is when they make the majority of their revenue.

DO contact the Inn before your stay to make them aware of any dietary restrictions or allergies you may have.

DON’T demand a custom menu or wait until your breakfast arrives to let them know you are a diabetic gluten-free vegan allergic to vegetables.

DO inquire about rooms with private entrances or balconies.

DON’T use that as a way to sneak in guests or throw all-night soirees on the veranda.

DO request to purchase a nice package from the Inn in advance for your significant other to make their stay special.

DON’T wait until the day of your reservation to frantically order a bouquet of long-stemmed roses and chocolate dipped strawberries.

DO provide your Innkeeper with a time of arrival. Innkeepers love to be on property to greet their guests and give them a tour. They take great pride in their business and want to give you a fantastic first impression.

DON’T demand that an Innkeeper wait until 9 or 10 pm for your arrival when you committed to a 3 pm arrival. Oftentimes, Innkeepers have families and dedicate 24 hours a day/7 days a week to their B&B, and it is presumptuous to expect them to put their lives on hold to wait at the front because you had to make an impromptu stop at the outlet mall for 6 hours. There are a few exceptions such as inclement weather or poor traffic conditions that are beyond your control, and any Innkeeper will be more than understanding of this. Be sure to give them a courtesy call if this is the case.

DO ask your Innkeeper to provide extra pillows and duvets or to ensure that your bed won’t be adjacent to a drafty window or door.

DON’T take it upon yourself to rearrange furniture, remove headboards or take amenities from other rooms. I have heard of guests un-anchoring large, heavy headboards because they “made too much noise.” BIG faux pas.

DO ask your Innkeeper to give you a tour of their available, clean rooms for your next visit.

DON’T embark on a self-guided tour of the Inn. Remember, this is someone’s home and also guests may very well have forgotten to lock a door when they left for the day.

DO address any issues with your accommodations while you are on-sight so that they may be remedied immediately during your stay.

DON’T wait until 3 am to ring the Innkeeper about a running toilet or write a snarky review on TripAdvisor after your departure. Small businesses thrive on reviews and inns pride themselves on hospitality and being able to handle any situation as it arises. Unless your stay was absolutely horrid, there is no reason to wait and write a nasty review.

DO interact with other guests at breakfast and partake in lively conversation with the staff.

DON’T insult or belittle the staff; or bring up taboo topics at the breakfast table. Be aware of social cues in case some of the guests just want privacy. Sidenote, showing up in your pajamas to the formal dining room is a huge no-no. You don't have to dress up, but please look presentable.

DO ask your housekeeping staff to provide clean sheets daily or replenish your amenities. If you are staying 3 nights, typically the housekeeper will change your sheets for the 3rd night, but some people prefer extra freshening.

DON’T leave your room a pigsty with trash strewn about and hair clumps in the Jacuzzi. Leave your
 room in a way that wouldn’t embarrass you if your mother walked in. The staff is more than happy to freshen your room each morning when you go out for the day, but often they have a limited window of time to straighten all the rooms, so the tidier you leave it, the more thoroughly it will be cleaned.

DO leave a tip for the staff in your room as you depart. Customarily, if the service was exemplary, $10-$20 per day is standard.

DON’T leave leftover alcohol (many times, inn staff is under 21 years) or uneaten food as a tip.

DO return the next year with your significant other for a yearly getaway. The Innkeepers will fondly remember you and will try to make your second experience even more memorable.

DON’T return later with new “guests” every time. Even though an innkeeper will always show you respect and privacy regardless of your lifestyle choices, it is tacky to bring a different partner to the same place every time. Telephone the innkeeper and ask if there is another local B&B that they could recommend. They would be happy to assist you, especially if it would help them avoid a potentially awkward blunder.

A Bed & Breakfast can be a truly magical experience, especially if you are celebrating a special occasion with your loved one. Enjoying the single life? Treat yourself to a couple nights of pampering and relaxation! Some of my most incredible vacations have been solo ones, where I have the liberty to go off and explore a new area at my own leisure, partake in savory cuisine and meet people from all different walks of life.

Be sure to thoroughly browse your options, reading reviews and asking others for recommendations. If your personal style is more rustic chic, but you are booking your stay at a frilly Victorian Inn, that will not suit your preference. Comb through the online pictures and choose a B&B that is both aesthetically pleasing to your eye and has outstanding reviews for food and service.

Post Memorial Day Weekend Woes? Beat the Burger Blues with a Tangy Watermelon Avocado Salad

It's Tuesday morning and barreling around the corner comes the emotional “hangover” that comes with the acceptance that you are going back to your routine life after a blissful 3-day Memorial Day Weekend…I was dropping my son off at school this morning and as he sat down at the little breakfast nook, he locked his fingers with mine and said, “Best friends, momm-ay.” I felt my eyes well up with tears knowing that our perfect time together of splashing in the pool, playing Bocce ball and making campfire cones was coming to an end (even though we just planned our weekend wilderness getaway to the Pocono Mountains for late June!).

We spent the weekend at my parents’ house, as their community has a luxurious pool, spa and ice cream bar (err…for the kids, right?). Rylan loved sampling all of our ice creams and playing in the fountain at the shallow end of the pool. In the evenings after we grilled our dinner, we took waffle cones and filled them with marshmallows, chocolates, berries and nuts; wrapped them in foil and tossed them on the grill for a few minutes—Campfire Cones! Be forewarned because the undercarriage of the cone is prone to getting charred—but if you keep a watchful eye on them, the combination is ooey gooey amazingness! I especially delighted in the melted dark chocolate with the blackberries.

The relentless May sun began to do quite a number on my delicate and newly homed peach verbenas and royal purple salvia buds. I ended up venturing to the garden market for the fourth time in a week, bright and early on the morning of Memorial Day in search of a leafy banana plant to shade my
parched plants. The fabulous attendant scoffed at the thought of the poor banana plant scorching in the sun, and sent me home with none other than my absolute favorite plant in the world—a tiny Meyer lemon tree. The Meyer lemon is a phenomenon from China, brought back by Frank Nicholas Meyer in the early 1900’s. It bears similarities to both a traditional lemon and a mandarin orange, and is sweeter and less tart than the lemons we find on the rim of our iced tea. They contribute to tangy cocktails and your mama’s lemon bars will pack a punch at the next Memorial Day BBQ if you use Meyer lemons! Stay tuned as my little tree begins to yield fruit, and we will get into all the joys of making Meyer lemon soaps and curds (and perhaps, a very berry Meyer lemon trifle as well)!

Speaking of tantalizing food—my, oh my were there some amazing dishes churned out this Memorial Day Weekend! My favorite epicurean delights were simple grilled basil & lime grilled shrimp kabob,

tangy strawberry and spinach salad with walnuts; and a mixture of diced watermelon, tomato, avocado, cucumber, balsamic vinaigrette and fresh herbs. 

For the Salad:
1 pack of grape tomatoes, in assorted colors, cut in half
1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded, and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 cup 3/4-inch-cubed red seedless watermelon chunks
1 avocado, halved, pitted, peeled, and cut into 3/4-inch cubes

For the Dressing:

1 tablespoon chopped mixed fresh herbs, in any combination: basil, tarragon, chives, cilantro, lemon thyme
1/4 teaspoon coriander seed
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Assemble chopped ingredients in large bowl. In separate bowl, mix balsamic, olive oil, coriander seed, and herbs/seasonings and drizzle over the chopped ingredients and gently toss.

*******************************************************************************

Three-day weekends are a fantastic opportunity to spend rare quality time with your loved ones while enjoying outdoor fun in the sun, but it's also a great time to really, truly feel the gratitude in the depths of our souls toward those who have suffered for us to have those freedoms (and those who continue to sacrifice so that we can maintain our privileges). Carve out time to reflect on where you are in this moment, hopefully with food on your tables and joy in your hearts, and know that you are so very loved--and return that infinite love to others. They say the truest concept of "enlightenment" is to be able to look up at the sky and want nothing more from life than to be where you are; to feel the absence of desire or suffering. Let's all strive to feel a fraction of that calm and content, and project our positivity onto those around us. You are enough.

Bring the Childhood Magic Back into Weekend Mornings

My favorite thing to do on a Saturday morning is to wake up with the sunrise and take my toddler to the neighborhood diner in his pajamas. I live for the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafting into the booths, and the way the intricately iced cakes rotate in the carousel as little ones crowd around it, noses pressed against the glass. As I sit cuddled up with my son next to me, I watch all the different stories unfold around me—young kids voraciously feasting before a big soccer game; loving grandparents treating their grandkids to a special meal; single parents who have their little ones for their custodial weekend; shy young couples on their first breakfast date together getting to know each other over French toast; college students sleepily refueling after an all-too-familiar all-nighter.

The best part about Saturday mornings at the diner is the squeal of excitement escaping my son when his Mickey Mouse pancake is put in front of him. Seeing the elation in his eyes sparked the idea that I could create that glimmer of magic in our own home every Saturday morning with breakfast food that depicted his favorite stories and characters. For the past couple of months, every weekend morning when my baby starts to stir, his sandy-colored hair disheveled from his adventures in dreamland, I ask him what he wants for breakfast. Without fail, he exclaims emphatically with his eyes still closed…”Pancakes!”

Thus my affinity for whimsical pancake art was born! I love using cuts of fresh, colorful fruit; multicolored chocolate chips; and a questionably steady hand while pouring the batter into funky shapes in the hot, buttered pan. The hard part is not dreaming up concepts, but keeping sticky little fingers from grabbing a strawberry nose in the process!

If you want a great way to bond with your kids, treat your significant other to a piece of culinary art, or just reliving your own favorite childhood wonders, see what you can come up with this Saturday morning.

Sultry Summer Recipe for Turning a Day at the Farmer's Market into a Sizzling Date Night

Social Experiment:

Walk into a crowded room- be it a break room at work, an OBGYN’s office, a salty biker bar, whatever you please…and discreetly utter the words…”Farmer’s Market.” I guarantee about 95% of the occupants of that room will squeal and say, “Oh I just LOOOOVE farmer’s markets!!!” This is because farmer’s markets are a veritable Mecca of local delights, farm fresh produce and an exquisitely opportune time for people watching. And almost every town across the US of A boasts some sort of farmers bazaar. 

Lancaster County is home to the country’s oldest functioning farmer’s market, appropriately named Central Market. As soon as you push open the magnificent side doors, your senses are awoken by the convolution of heavenly aromas: gooey sticky buns dripping with molten cinnamon butter; flowery cardamom dusted delectables from the Middle East stand, the musky perfume of freshly smoked meats and cheeses, the fragrant potpourri of hundreds of colorful flowers transported in pretty papered bouquets up and down every aisle. Wafting in and out of your eardrums are muddled Pennsylvania Dutch exclamations and the sublime sound of the choir singing from the rafters. 

My dream date night would be embarking on a “Market Mystery Basket Challenge.” Once you’ve entered Market, split up and one person visits a spice stand, a produce stand and a cheese stand, and the other selects the meat and additional accompaniments. Remember, you will not be basing any of your purchases off of a pre-planned recipe! Together at home, you can create culinary ingenuity using the random ingredients that you picked up from Market. It would be a brilliant way to fuse teamwork with imagination while supporting local flavor. 

Not feeling inventive? Here's an easy example anyone can do at home!

Protein:
Orange roughy
Vegetable:
Purple Cauliflower
Accompaniments:
Apricot Marmalade
Dijon Mustard
Tarragon
Lemons
Almonds

Apricot and Dijon Glazed Orange Roughy with Roasted Purple Cauliflower Almondine

In a hot pan, melt 2 tbs butter, 2 tsps Dijon mustard and ¼ jar of apricot marmalade. Add in 3 tbs freshly chopped tarragon. Pour over baked orange roughy filets (or marinate them before you cook them). Salt and pepper to taste.

Cut cauliflower into bite sized florets. Toss in a bowl of paprika (or Old Bay), salt and pepper, then squeeze lemon over florets. Place in oven heated at 375 degrees until florets turn golden brown. While cauliflower is roasting, melt 2 tbs of butter in a pan, then add a clove of minced garlic. Sautee slivered almonds in the pan and remaining lemon juice. Pour mixture over roasted cauliflower florets. Serve with fingerling potatoes tossed in olive oil, fresh chunks of garlic and rosemary.

End your evening with a light vanilla panna cotta with mango mousse and a crisp glass of Chenon Blanc under the stars and that, my friends, is a recipe for bliss.

A Minute Out of Monday

In my quest to see the fireworks despite a seemingly never-ending mental fog, it dawned on me that the sparks in life originate from millions of tiny, serendipitous moments all working together to keep the blood pumping through my veins in perfect rhythm; to imprint the soft crinkles in the corners of my eyes from a lifetime of smiles; to feel that rush of warmth every time my child sets his eyes upon me; the prickling of my skin with delighted relief when I hear a song that describes the emotions that my own words have fallen short in conveying. The minutes fall like tiny, fragile snowflakes, each so intricately different but awe-inspiring as they dance in the air, suspended in time long enough to achieve a snapshot to archive in my memory bank. If I try to tangibly touch them, they completely dissipate in my eager palm so all I can do is admire their fleeting beauty with the mindfulness that they could be the last of the season, forcing me to just be in every moment…

My mind works in a way that it is physically and mentally draining for me to make small talk of any kind—I’d rather delve into the nitty-gritty; be granted the exposure to secrets that are kept only by the solace of the silent stars. So when it was suggested to me that I need to start a blog in the shallow attempt to occupy my mind from…well, my own mind…I initially felt panic about the expected hashtag overuse and mindless posts hyper-focused on the agonizing process of dying my hair the perfect shade of Pantone’s color eggplant in what I can only describe as my 30-year identity resuscitation. Maybe this blog doesn’t have to solely conform to weight loss journeys, #fashiongoals or homages to perfect parenting. Maybe this blog can also highlight those [little serendipitous] moments that often go unnoticed as we work in overdrive to beautify our own lives, only to neglect the organic splendor that exists effortlessly within each moment in time. I’m sure you will find over-embellished pictures of avocado toast, outfits-on-fleek days and a veritable shrine to my son strewn amongst my written thoughts…but maybe a glimpse into my little bubble will inspire you to share the beauty in your world with me.

"When your world moves too fast

and you lost yourself in the chaos,

introduce yourself

to each color of the sunset.

Reaquaint yourself with the earth 

beneath your feet.

Thank the air that surrounds you

with every breath you take.

Find yourself in the appreciation of life."