Happy Monday!
I have a lot to blog about this week. I missed a few things from the Superbowl, a birthday celebration, gardening, home projects, recipes, and more. I’ve decided to blog every day this week. I’m going to use it as my catch up! Since it’s been dark and rainy for the past few days, I haven’t felt like doing much, and I’ve been down in the dumps for no reason. My energy levels and motivation are definitely connected to the weather. Anyone else? I just started taking a supplement that is supposed to help with seasonal affective disorder, so crossing my fingers brings me a little boost. The positive side of all of this is that the sun should come out tomorrow. Cue, Annie (i hope atleast one person got that one.) Now that the end of winter is coming, I decided it was a good time to start pruning my roses. I watched about fifty YouTube videos to make sure I did everything right. I have to get out there tomorrow and prune the rest. I forgot how many rose bushes I bought last summer. And I’m looking forward to adding so many more this year. I’m going to focus on climbing roses this time. My mom has these beautiful white climbing roses she’s going to give to me since her yard doesn’t have enough sun for them. I’m going to let them grow up on my back fence since it’s full sun. Stay tuned for that project! I found these gloves and pruning shears a few weeks ago on Amazon, and they are absolutely perfect. Yes, the gloves are so cute, but they’re light yet thornproof. I like that they go all the way up to protect my arms, and I managed to get out with zero thorn stabs. Those are seriously the worst! The pruning sheers are the best quality. I have gone through a few, and they end up breaking in a day! These are by far the best I’ve purchased. I bought a few extras to keep just in case something happens to these. Oh, and if you plan on gardening out in the sun this summer, I found the best gardening hat! It has a ponytail hole and protects our face, ears, and neck! It’s amazing. Amazon has the best gardening tools. I know. I know. I’m going to get many people telling me that you’re supposed to plant tulips in the fall, and you’re right! BUT, I got them later and figured I’d plant them anyway since we have six more weeks of winter, they have time to grow in the cold. It should be a fun experiment to see if they come up! 😊 I’m a rebel in the garden sometimes, and it doesn’t always fail. While I was outside gardening, Kyle went to the grocery store to pick up dinner ingredients and made a special dinner for the both of us. For someone who never cooks (other than wings and meal prep), this was such a sweet surprise!I’m not saying this just because he made it, but this was one of the best cooked and seasoned steaks I’ve ever had in my life. I mean, he was in the kitchen grinding sea salt with rosemary and even added fresh thyme to the top! Unfortunately, now that I know he can cook this well, it looks like he’ll have to start cooking more! My neighbor brought me over some very sweet galantines day flowers.
I made a delicious low carb cheesecake for desert (that recipe is coming this week!), and we ended up watching Truth Be Told on Apple T.V., and I’m hooked! Add that one to your list. It’s soooo good, and I can’t wait to watch an episode tonight.I hope you all had a great Valentine’s day. It’s always been my favorite holiday since I was a little girl. My mom and I used to celebrate together, and she’d always have the sweetest gift basket made for me that morning. It’s just a special holiday that brings back so many good memories. 💜
I will chat with you guys tomorrow in another blog post!I made a recipe I had on my blog a while back but made a few changes! Check out the recipe here!!
Questions for you
- Is the weather bad where you live? (I heard Texas is breaking records!)
- How did you celebrate Valentine’s day?
- What is your favorite flower in your garden (or favorite flower in general?)
Jennifer says
It’s just annoyingly cold in MN. It was -20 this morning! We’re supposed to get more snow this weekend, though.
We just had a super relaxing day together just doing whatever we felt like- it was perfect and very much needed!
I love peonies, and will for sure find a spot for them at my future house! We’re building and it should be done in August 😏😏
Taralynn says
THATS A BIG NO FOR ME lol I can’t with it being that cold!!
omg peonies!!
Shawna Tacy says
Weather here in Lake Placid is mild- some days its cool then it warms up in the late morning/early afternoon and is cool in the evening again. Cardigans have been a major staple in my closet lately…gotta have those layers since you never know what the weather is going to be, it can’t make up its mind! But that’s okay with me, I love cardigans, I just think they look so adorable with jeans and Toms style slid on’s!
For Valentines Day, my husband took me and my kids to our annual county fair. Its been running every year here in Highlands County, FL since 1937, can you believe that?!! It was a blast especially since my 10 year old has never been to a fair before. He also got me a Hoya Kerrii (AKA “Valentine Hoya” or “Sweetheart Plant”) since I am a succulent collector and love how they last so much longer than flowers. I love succulents but my favorite flowers are orchids, which I suck at keeping alive. To my defense, I heard they are hard to keep- very demanding and picky, so after killing one or two, I think he learned his lesson, LOL!
Side note, but I have been trying more and more plant based foods and protein power in my smoothies each morning, and have lost about 5 lbs, following your lead. Thanks for continuing to inspire me, not only to keep my own blog/website, but also health wise. Because of you, I have started walking again, and refused to count calories- just listening to my body and eating what I know is going to benefit my body is all I need!
Taralynn says
Hi, Shawna!
Sounds like good weather to me 😊
What a fun and special Valentines day with the family!
Keep up the good work!!! Love that you’re capturing a super healthy mindset and habits that are realistic!
Ashley says
That was so sweet of Kyle! I’m so glad you had a great day. That’s how I am with my Kyle, when he fixes something yummy, that’s his new staple that I want him to fix more often, haha.
Weather is icky here in Ohio. Currently having freezing rain and a lot more to come over the next day, so we are staying inside where it’s warm and praying we don’t have any electric issues.
I hope you have a great week, friend, and am looking forward to your upcoming posts. 🙂
Make Life Marvelous
Taralynn says
It was a sweet surprise 😀
I hope you get some sunshine soon!!!
Kelsey W. says
In Maryland, I can’t remember the last time we had sun! It was icy a few days ago and the storm that hit TX will make its way to us Thursday apparently. About a month til spring! We also grilled steaks for vday and had a cozy night in and watched the Night Stalker series on Netflix. Not a very romantic thing to watch, but we couldn’t turn it off! I also love roses, but my favorite flowers lately have been camelias! I’m hoping to plant some soon 🙂 How many rose plants did you put in when you first moved in?! xo Kelsey
Taralynn says
Haha we watched a crime show too! Kyle won’t do romcoms so they are more of my thing.
omg i love camelias!! Mine are all in full bloom right now!
Danielle says
I live in the midwest, so we’ve been experiencing some intense cold and snow and I’ve also noticed my mood is closely tied to the weather. Is there any way you could share the name of the supplement you’re trying that’s supposed to help with seasonal affective disorder? Thanks!! 🙂
Taralynn says
Hi, Danielle!
It’s called St Johns Wort!
Virginia says
1. Yes, my Canadian weather is horrible. Snow and freezing rain storm today, yuck.
2. I don’t usually do much for Valentine’s Day, but got engaged this year 😀
3. Roses, for sure!
Taralynn says
awwww congrats, virginia!!!
Lotti says
Hi Taralynn, gotta love gardening and roses!
I often use Gaura lindheimeri in my botanical designs (I do this for a living) Just magnificent how Gaura moves in the wind as well as how many months it blooms. I design gardens in several countries in Europe but 1 thing I always incorporate, no matter where the project site, is native plants; they provide shelter and food for local wildlife (meaning they dont starve) and support pollinators. Also I advice my clients against pesticides, they will make any garden sick longterm, because they also poison kinda useful insects (that fight pests on their own) and water and soil, so you will consequently need to buy increasing amounts of pesticides against several pests. Expensive and so annoying this vicious cycle. Avoiding monocultures for example is a very useful pest control. Or biological pest control meaning you dont spray but create ‘insect wars’ :p for example putting lady bugs on your plant to remove aphids or thrips.
But I am drifting, back to my favourites! An elegant climber you might like is Passiflora caerulea. And you might like Gypsophila Paniculata, also a living fairytale. if you plant that you have your very own flower shop in the garden. It is often used in wedding bouquets. Also gorgeous when dried. However check your soil PH for it thrives only in alkaline soil. And 2 more favourite plants for you (yes this question is killing me i have around 200 favourites) Fritillaria meleagris and polygonatum odoratum. Truly gorgeous plants.
Best of luck – I wish you a succesful garden season!
Taralynn says
Wow thanks so much! bookmarking this 😊
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
This is the cutest! Happy Valentine’s Day, Taralynn! ❤️✨
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Taralynn says
Thanks, Charmaine!
Courtney says
I can attest to the pruning sheers! I have the same ones and are the only ones that don’t break when we cultivate our marijuana plants (we live in a legal state). Have so many pairs for when people stop by and want to lend a hand
Taralynn says
Hi, Courtney!
haha that’s amazing! I’m coming to visit! 😆
But seriously they are so amazing and I love that they aren’t too expensive!
Jessie says
1 I am in Cincinnati …. so much snow and soooo cold
2. We went for a nice dinner and drinks and then stayed at a hotel away from the teenagers at home.
3. I love orchids but my favorite to grow in the garden are succlents
Taralynn says
Oh that sounds so cold! burr 😳
Sounds like a great Valentines Day ♥️
Steph says
We’ve just come out of a cold snap with lots of snow but now it’s back to the usual rain (UK)- i imagine to you it would probably seem really cold even now!
Our valentines tradition is champagne and fish and chips- we had that then played card games.
I’m terrible at gardening but I do love that the daffodils are coming out now!
Taralynn says
Our neighbors had daffodils come up this week and it made me so happy!
Sounds like you had a lovely valentines day!
Rina says
Hey there!
I was reading about you pruning your roses, it prompted me to ask what brand of pruners you used and whether you would recommend them for working with Bonsai?
Rina