Happy Monday!
I’m currently sitting on my front porch with coffee, a cozy blanket, and I’m ready to get this recap started. I love seeing all of my flowers in bloom, and I feel like the crazy plant mom checking on everything each morning while still wearing my pajamas. A few of you sent me a photo of you doing the same thing each morning, which made me feel a little less crazy. I know in a few months, I won’t be able to sit outside this long before it starts to get humid and hot. I’m soaking up all the good weather while it’s here. I’ve learned that working outside has helped me stay focused. When I’m sitting at my desk staring out the window at the green trees and sunshine, I want to close up shop and go out for a walk or play with the dogs in the backyard. I’m living up to the best of both worlds right now. I know I’m coming at you with another blog post filled with food and gardening, but all the new blooms and sprouts coming up are what bring me joy right now. If it’s something, you’re not interested in, here me out. I have some entertaining blogs coming up. I have about five trips planned that would all include a travel guide and a wedding coming up in just under 60-days. And of course, after the wedding blog, I’ll be able to share all of the DIY, planning, details, and things I’ve had to hide this past year! I’ve been spending so much time with DIY and planning. I’ve had a lot of fun with it, though! 😊 I was so hungry on Monday morning after my walk. I made a multigrain toast with avocado, everything but the bagel seasoning, maple chicken sausage, an egg, and some almonds. I also had some Greek yogurt on the side. For dinner, I made Banza mac and cheese, smashed crispy brussels sprouts with soy sauce and honey on top, and roasted honey citrus salmon. On Tuesday morning, I had toasted pitas with smashed avocado, cranberry chicken salad, and kiwi slices. Yes, I love eating kiwi skin. It’s nutritious and super sour like candy. I saw on TikTok where somebody froze their tangerines and said they tasted like sorbet. Well, it’s true, and I was shocked! I’ve been eating these all week. After freezing the tangerine, you have to let it sit for a few minutes, run it under warm water, and then slice into it. They aren’t as sorbet-ish if you peel them before freezing. They get too hard, and you can taste the pulp texture more. These are so so so good, and I can’t wait to have them by the pool all summer long. Coffee and plant inspections each morning. It’s crazy how they grow a few inches overnight. My mom and I took a little road trip to the Gibson Mill on Wednesday afternoon. I picked up some fabric and the cutest picnic basket. It needs a little rehab, but I love finding vintage picnic baskets and refurbishing them a little. I’m going to get a light blue/grey thread and wrap the broken handles until they’re completely covered. Kyle always laughs when I come home with a new picnic basket. I love them, and I like to use them on trips, too! My mom and I love treating ourselves to an occasional Chick-Fil-A treat. We split the frozen diet coke, and I ordered grilled chicken nuggets. They’re so good dipped in CFA sauce. Lunch on Thursday while working on my office blog post! Since it’s finally warm enough, I’ve been making some tea outside! My mom used to make tea like this when I was a little girl. I like to add fresh fruit to give it some natural sweetness. The Bigelow Botanicals tea is delicious! They have so many unique flavors. On Thursday, I walked to the Knowledge Perk bus near our neighborhood to get an oat milk cappuccino with a splash of chai. It was so hot and sunny on Thursday, so a friend and I stopped at our pool to lay out. I can’t wait for the actual pool to be open, but it’s still nice laying out next to it. Of course, the frozen cuties were packed! On Friday, my mom and I headed to get our dresses altered! I was so nervous because I hadn’t put my dress on since last July. I don’t know why my mind went to a dark place, not fitting, but it fit, and we’re all good. I actually had dreams about going there and not being able to breathe. I’ve actually had many nightmares about the wedding, which is crazy since, in real life, there’s nothing stressful about it. It’s the things that aren’t in my control that I dream about, which is a sign I need to let go. I’m sure some of you can relate!
Anyways, after getting our dresses done, we had lunch at Chopt. I had the Harvest bowl with added avocado and falafel. 😋 It’s one of the best! We also headed to Southpark mall to pick up some vases for the wedding aisle. I’ve had my eye on some from a home decor store there, and I was so happy when they were still available. I was out the door at 7 am on Saturday to stop at Wilsons Garden Center before it got too crazy. That place gets flooded on the weekend, but I really wanted to get some plants to put in my summer pots. Wilsons has the prettiest colors of petunias. I love adding petunias to my borders each ear and filling my pots up with them. Last year, they went all the way into Fall with their blooms. Remember when my peonies were tiny little sprouts coming up from the lawn? Now, they’re huge! I bet they’ll be all green by the next recap post. We also had to get the boys a new bubble machine since the other broke after a few years. We got them a MEGA one, and the bubbles cover the entire lawn. This is the best thing to keep them running and getting exercise. You can purchase non-toxic bubbles as well as bacon bubbles on amazon. I love watching them go! It’s amusing since Grumples gets fixated on the same bubble and will hunt it down until he gets it. We had a random (but still tasty) dinner on Saturday night. We cooked up ground chicken, Banza mac, and cheese, and I added some leftover ravioli with pasta sauce. On nights when you’re craving everything, you just have to throw everything together and call it a day. My little seeds are coming up!
My petunias I planted a few weeks ago are already getting so big! They look like fully white marshmallows from the street. On Sunday morning, I had a green juice from Earth Fare. It had celery, cucumber, kale, spinach, lemon, and extra ginger! Look at my zinnias!!!! I can’t believe how well they’re doing. I’m going to cry when the first one blooms because I am so invested at this point 😂 I have them planted around other areas of the house, too. Happy pups are always following me around the yard. Leo ♥️ He’s always trying to steal my garden gloves, and it’s become an ongoing game with us. My seeds I planted last week are sprouting! I have big plans next year for a vegetable and cut flower garden space in the backyard. I want to have them down by my hill on the way back. My lemon tree made it through the winter and has its very first flower! That means we may see a lemon this year! On Sunday, I made the cutest 2-ingredient frozen dog treats with these silicone molds! My dogs are absolutely obsessed with them. I bought the molds are Amazon, and they are one of my favorite purchases for the dogs! I cleaned the house all Sunday morning and afternoon. It always feels good to end the weekend in a nice and clean house. I also love all the daylight we’re getting. Warm weather and sunshine just make me a happier person. My flower pots and some plants that came back from last year! I’ll do a full garden tour soon with everything is in bloom. My roses are so close to opening! We have ALL SUN in the forecast coming up, so I know we’ll get some movement. I made delicious homemade turkey jalapeno Havarti burgers for dinner last night. These had two pounds of ground turkey, 1/2 cup chopped jalapeno Havarti, 1/2 tbsp onion powder, 1/2 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tbsp soy sauce, and 5 chopped jalapenos (and a few seeds thrown in there!) They turned out amazing! Perfect night for dinner outside ♥️
I hope you all have the best Monday! I’ll be back with another home decor post and recipe blog this week. 😃
Questions for you!
- Do you ever have dreams about things you can’t control?
- What was the most random dinner bowl you put together?
- Are you currently watching any good shows?
Amanda|Thekicheneer says
Girl! Yes! Always having crazy dreams! And during the day too of anxiety flaring up over silly things I can’t control.
I do what you do too! I just go outside and look at my garden and look at my tulips!
I typically have weird salad bowls. Whatever sounds good gets thrown in. Spring mix, last nights red potatoes, salmon, crunchy chickpeas, roasted Brussels, and Tessemaes!
Currently catching up on Teen Mom OG and Curse of Oak Island
You?
Taralynn says
That is what I’ve been doing to help!!!! I hate when it’s random in the middle of the day 😭
Ohhhhh you can send that salad bowl my way!!!
waitttt what is curse of oak island!!
Jennifer says
Absolutely 😅 that’s when I know I need to take a step back and reign in my anxiety a bit if I can!
I’m watching Ghost Whisperer on Hulu right now. I was (and still am) obsessed with this show from back when I was in high school. I love Jennifer Love Hewitt 😂
I’m so jealous of all your gardening already!!! In MN we can’t buy flowers until at least May 😭 I am tempted, however, to get some seeds started in a pot now though! I can’t wait til our house is done in August so I can start planning landscaping. Totally coming back to all your gardening posts for help!
Taralynn says
That is the truth!
Hahaha omg yes. I remember that show!!
Thats why in the upper states you need a little greenhouse space so you can get your fix by doing seeds!
It’s almost may though! hang in there!
Gina says
1. My most stressful recurring dreams are the ones where I’m back in high school and it turns out that I either haven’t been going to classes all year or I’ve forgotten to turn in my assignments and I can’t graduate (which is crazy because I’m almost 35 now and well past high school and college lol) and also the dreams where my teeth are falling out. My dreams are super vivid and feel so real, so I always wake up super stressed out. 🥴
2. I LOVE putting random dinner bowls together. My favorite combo is chicken or pork with potatoes, stuffing, mac and cheese, and greens all mixed up and topped with cranberry sauce. For lunch today I actually mixed my chinese takeout together so I had my rice, noodles, meat, and veggies all mixed up in one bowl. My hubby judges, but it’s delicious. 👌🏼
3. The only show on cable I still watch is ‘This is Us’. The rest of the time I stream YouTube travel vlogs (my fave–especially during covid when travel has been limited and I have to live vicariously through others). I actually went on a binge of all your YouTube travel vlogs last week, so the fact you’re planning more travel has me super excited and crossing my fingers for more vlogs!🤞🏼✈
Taralynn says
Oh those are the worst! I always try to google and analyze them, too lol
That sounds like a delicious bowl!!! I’d take one of those.
I know I really need to get back on the vlog train! It’s hard when Kyle works from home and I feel so weird about talking to the camera 😂
Pamela says
Your landscaping and flowers are GORGEOUS!! Thanks for all the fun doggie toys and treats. I cannot wait to make those frozen ones for my pup soon!! We are currently making our way through Game of Thrones…I know, late to the party.
Taralynn says
Thanks, Pamela!! ♥️ I’m also late to the party because i’ve never watched it lol I just dont know if its something id be into!
Leah says
I love your weekly recap. Thank you for always sharing it with us!
Taralynn says
Thanks, Leah 😃
Tess says
I hadnightmares about my wedding with only fifteen guests!
Taralynn says
Well that makes me feel better!:)
Ashton says
Wait… Chick Fil A HAS A FROZEN DIET COKE?! How did I not know this??
Taralynn says
LOL YUP saw it on TikTok and went to see if they had it and its true! They can make any beverage frozen!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
Your garden looks amazing! I have only one plant – a cotton candy fern – and it’s dying… it makes me feel so bad haha! ❤️✨
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Taralynn says
Thanks, Charmaine! & You better rescue her 😂 But to make you feel better, I feel like indoor plants/ferns can be difficult! & easy to forget about lol
Sarah says
Hi Taralynn! I have crazy dreams about things I can’t control all the time. I feel like society puts so much pressure on women about having the “perfect” wedding. I had a panic attack right before my wedding, so I feel ya with the anxiety. As soon as I got to my husband all of my anxiety went away and we had the best day! Your wedding is going to be so beautiful! I definitely need to make some of the frozen dog treats for my pup, thanks for sharing! Also loving all of the gardening posts!
Taralynn says
Thank you for sharing that, Sarah ♥️
Please come back and let me know what your pups think!!
Milena says
Hi Taralynn!
I can’t believe it’s only 2 months till your wedding! It must be super exciting 🙂
I Also have dreams about things I can’t control, and lately I’ve been dreaming really weird things. It’s interesting how our brain is playing with us!
I wish you a nice week and I can’t wait to see more pictures from your beautiful garden 🙂
Big hugs!
Taralynn says
Thanks so much, Milena! ♥️
You’re right about that. The brain is so powerful.
♥️ Have a great week!
harriet says
Hi Taralynn, great recap blog and you garden is looking incredible, cannot wait to see photos of all your flowers blooming. I have random dreams about things I cannot control as well like a clients house being painted pink and green instead of grey and white, I think its because work is so busy it takes over my dreams as well. our random dinner bowls are not the greatest the other night it was left over roasted pork and pumpkin salad. I haven’t watched tv in weeks, we got a new puppy called Navy so most of my nights are taking up playing and training with her. Hope you’ve had a great week.
Taralynn says
Thank you so much, Harriet!!
I love that name for a puppy!! ♥️ Have fun!!
Lily says
I’m sure your wedding will be lovely! I am told that “perfect is the enemy of good” and of course trying to control every little detail is futile and only creates stress. Let go and have fun!
My random salad bowls include cubed avocado, sliced white onion, chopped cucumber, dill, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and EBT seasoning. With some protein on top.
Taralynn says
You’re right!
ohhhhhhh that bowl sounds heavenly.
Karolina says
I also had problem with sleep before my wedding. For example my dress was dirty or I was late for the ceremony or I forgot to tell my parents about wedding. Everything turned perfect. We had our small, intimate ceremony. Don’t worry. Bad dreams about wedding are a sign about good marriage 🙂
Taralynn says
I’m glad I’m not the only one!
Mine were similar! My dress never got fitted and I had to pull it up all night and I sent my photographer the wrong address 😆