Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Pears Salad

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Pears Salad

Sep 30, 2018 · 19 Comments

Roasted Brussels Sprouts are the best and they pair beautifully with pears in this Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Pears Salad!

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Stretching Fruit and Vegetables by Roasting Them

One of my only complaints about belonging to a CSA is that sometimes I don't get enough of a particular vegetable to do a whole recipe with it. With my last CSA pickup, we received a couple of handfuls of brussels sprouts. Not enough to make a Brussels sprouts recipe. Since they looked so fall to me, I decided to mix them with another fall item - pears.

I thought that the flavors might complement each other - and they did. I realize that I called this a salad and you are looking at what looks like just some roasted pieces on parchment paper. What I had envisioned was then tossing these roasted Brussels sprouts and pears with some romaine lettuce and adding some dried cranberries and a light vinaigrette.

I got lazy. I still think the salad would be yummy, but I just served these straight off the baking sheet and they were so good!

With my extra pears I made a quick homemade pear liqueur!

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Alloy Wine Works 2017 Antipasto Sangiovese

Sep 29, 2018 · Leave a Comment

A review of Alloy Wine Works, 207 Antipasto Sangiovese for Weekend Wine Reviews!

Alloy Wine Works - Kitty Cat Approved

Luxie and I are back today to bring you a review of Ally Wine Works - 2017 Antipasto Sangiovese. Yes, it's wine in a can. Yes, we like wine in a can. We are not purists. We drink wine from cans and wines with screwcaps. We don't care what vessel the wine comes in as long as it tastes good. So far, we have been very pleased with Alloy Wine Works. Luxie agrees.

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Rain, Rain Go Away!

Sep 28, 2018 · 28 Comments

A few photos of our calico cats, Luxie and Coco, stuck inside because of all the crazy rain!

Too Much Rain!!

It's been a terrible week for kitty cats in Soddy Daisy, TN this week. Rain. Rain. And more rain. Everyday Coco and Patchouli head to the door to check and see if it's still raining. And it is. Lots. There was flash floods, schools closed and one woman drowned in the flash floods! It's been awful.

Then, the assistant principal of the Soddy Daisy High School makes some ridiculous statement on a video that goes viral! Even Cher gets in the act of tweeting about it!

Soddy Daisy makes the national news twice in one week and it's not good!

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Stuffed Delicata Squash

Sep 25, 2018 · 22 Comments

This Stuffed Delicata Squash is so easy and healthy. A little bulgur stretches a small amount of ground beef keeping this light and healthy. Creamy yogurt adds moisture and tang and pumpkin seeds add a delightful crunch! A family favorite from Eating Well!

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Stuffed Delicata Squash

It's September and I am soooo ready for it. I love fall! My CSA is over it too, we are starting to see squash show up in our basket. One of my favorites is delicata squash. It has a sweet subtle flavor, which according to Modern Farmer it tastes like a cross between sweet corn and pumpkin pie.

Okay. I'll go with that, since I can't come up with something better. What I love is that you can eat the skin. I hate peeling squash. I always end up peeling off some of my skin in the process. I was looking for a way to turn my delicata squash into a main dish and I found this Stuffed Delicata Squash from Eating Well. It sounded perfect!

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Braised Chicken Thighs with Wild Rice and Grapes

Sep 25, 2018 · 9 Comments

These Braised Chicken Thighs with Wild Rice and Grapes use boneless, skinless thighs for a healthy, quick and easy one pan meal that you are going to love!

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Braised Chicken Thighs with Wild Rice and Grapes

One pan meals are so great, aren't they? They are especially great when they are easy and delicious like this braised chicken thighs. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are my new best friend! They cook up quickly and stay so moist!

What makes this one pan chicken dish even better is that it is filled with good for you ingredients! With chicken, grapes, heart healthy walnuts, fiber rich brown rice, and vitamin packed carrots.

As an extra bonus, it's pretty to look at! Perfect use for an Enameled Cast Iron Skillet!

I found this recipe in one of my favorite one pan cookbook. It was from One Pan, Two Plates. A cookbook that is filled with easy one pan meals for two!

I've tried a few other recipes from that book:

This Thyme Rubbed Salmon with Cauliflower "Risotto" is perfect for my low carb readers!

This Tilapia with New Potatoes, Peas and Pesto is perfect for Fish Friday!

Braised Chicken Thighs with Wild Rice and Grapes

5 from 61 votes

Braised Chicken Thighs with Wild Rice and Grapes

Braised Chicken Thighs with Wild Rice and Grapes is an easy one pan meal!

Prep Time15

Cook Time1

Total Time1 15

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 761kcal

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless, chicken thighs
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion diced
1 carrot peeled and thinly sliced
½ cup wild and brown rice blend
1 tsp dried thyme
1 cup beef broth
1 cup seedless red grapes halved
½ cup walnuts chopped
2 tsp flat leaf parsley minced

Instructions

Pat the chicken dry and season with salt and pepper.
Over medium-high heat, heat a 12 inch skillet. When hot add the olive oil. Add the chicken and brown for about 4 minutes on one side, flip and brown for about 3 more minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
Add the onion, carrot, celery, rice, thyme, and ¼ tsp salt to the skillet. Saute about 3 minutes. Add the beef broth and using a wooden spoon, scrape up all the browned bits on the bottom of the pan.
Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for about 25 minutes. Then add the chicken and any juices in the plate. Nestle the chicken pieces in. Cover and cook again for another 20 minutes. Test the rice, it might need another few minutes. Make sure the heat is very low.
Stir in the grapes and walnuts. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Divide between two plates and sprinkle with the parsley to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 761kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 56g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 214mg | Sodium: 676mg | Potassium: 1240mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 5200IU | Vitamin C: 8.3mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 4.8mg

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Roasted Tomato and Tuna Pasta

Sep 24, 2018 · 14 Comments

Roasted tomatoes, canned tuna, olives and arugula combine in this Roasted Tomato and Tuna Pasta to make a quick and easy weeknight dinner!

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Easy Roasted Tomatoes Make Such a Difference!

I have the perfect easy pasta recipe for you!! With this Roasted Tomato and Tuna Pasta you can have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes!

This recipe is so simple, but don't let it's simplicity fool you, it is packed with flavor. Just taking a few extra minutes at the beginning to roast the tomatoes makes all the difference in the world. Sometimes it's the little tips and tricks like that, that really help to elevate a recipe.

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Dark and Stormy Cocktail

Sep 24, 2018 · 10 Comments

The Dark and Stormy Cocktail is a classic for a reason. Ginger beer and rum combine in this crazy simple and crazy delicious cocktail!

An Easy Two Ingredient Cocktail

If you're looking for an easy cocktail, it doesn't get much easier than a Dark and Stormy. All you need are two ingredients and a lime wedge. The only tricky part of a dark and stormy is deciding your ratio between the ginger beer (I used my favorite - Saranac) and the dark rum.

No one seems to agree, or rather everyone seems to agree to disagree. Chow gives a ration of 2 ounces of rum to 6 ounces of ginger beer. Rachael Ray gives a ration of 2 ounces of rum to 10 ounces of ginger beer! Michael Ruhlman gives a ratio of 3 ounces or rum to 3 ounces of ginger beer.

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Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

Sep 23, 2018 · 26 Comments

Loaded with good for your veggies like broccoli and red bell peppers and a simple stir fry sauce, this Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry can on the table in minutes!

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Stir Fries are Great for Using Up Vegetables!

With my CSA in full swing, I am often looking for recipes to use as many vegetables as possible. I find myself typing in things like: sweet potatoes, swiss chard, red bell peppers in Eat Your Books. After typing in all sorts of combinations, a light bulb went off.

Why not just make a stir fry using some of them up? It's quick and easy once you get past the preparation phase. Beef and broccoli is a pretty classic stir fry. All I needed to do was add a few more veggies to it, start some rice in the Rice Cooker and make up a simple stir fry sauce. Note - yes, I use a fairly expensive rice cooker. I bought it in 1994 when we adopted our daughters, and it's still going strong!

For this stir fry, I needed to use up some red bell pepper and broccoli, in Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry - I needed to use up broccoli and snow peas. In Spicy Shrimp and Brussels Sprouts, I was able to use up some Brussels Sprouts!

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#collection Wines Gia Coppola Rosé #overit

Sep 22, 2018 · Leave a Comment

#Collection Wines by Gia Coppola. This is a review of Gia Coppola's Rosé #overit.

Bottle of rosé wine with a telephone on the label

#Collection Wines by Gia Coppola

We have loved Francis Ford Coppola Wines for a long time, so we were excited to try some wines from his grand daughter, Gia Coppola. I have already reviewed her red blend, #thirsty 2016 Red Blend. Naming wines with hashtags is so on point and a fun option from a young wine maker.

So far, we have enjoyed Rosé and the Red Blend, we will be reviewing the third wine her collection, #selfish a White Blend later.

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Spicy Chicken, Corn and Couscous Salad

Sep 21, 2018 · 19 Comments

Cayenne pepper adds a little heat to this Spicy Chicken, Corn and Couscous Salad! You're going to love how easy it is to get a healthy dinner on the table in under 30 minutes!

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Whole Wheat Couscous - the Easy Way to Add Whole Grains!

Do you like whole wheat pasta? Honestly, I'm not a fan. I haven't really tried it lately, so maybe they've improved the flavor. It's not so much that I don't like the flavor of whole wheat pasta, it's just that I like the flavor of regular pasta better.

It's the same with whole wheat bread. I'll eat it, but I'd much rather have a sourdough baguette. The only exception to the whole wheat bias that I have is whole wheat couscous. I love it.

It's just as easy as regular couscous and is better for you. I use it almost interchangeably with grains. However, for this Spicy Chicken, Corn and Couscous Salad from a 2010 issue of Donna Hay magazine, all I had to substitute was whole wheat couscous for regular.

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More Mornings with Luxie Kitty

Sep 21, 2018 · 22 Comments

A few photos of my calico cat, Luxie. She likes sitting on the table with me in the morning while I journal.

Luxie in the Mornings

It's been awhile since Luxie has been featured kitty on our Caturday post! Coco kitty has been featured for two weeks in a row! So, Luxie absolutely insisted that I take some photos of her this morning.

This is where Luxie and I sit every morning to journal and plan our day. Unfortunately one of my errands placed on the calendar is to go get a new flea collar! Yes, Coco kitty came in the other day without her flea collar on. We've loved our flea collars and it's too early to consider having her go without one, so it's off to the pet store I go.

Does anyone have any tips for how to keep a kitty from losing her flea collar?

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Italian Gin and Tonic

Sep 20, 2018 · 32 Comments

Tired of the same old Gin and Tonic? You're going to love this Italian Gin and Tonic with vermouth and Campari!

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Gin and Tonics a Classic!

Remember before the internet? When your knowledge of worldly events came from tv, your friends and books. That was it. In college, my whole knowledge of cocktails came from those sources. Most of my books didn't mention them and my friends were all drinking beer. So, I turned to the black and white movies that I loved so much. It seemed like they ordered gin and tonics a lot. When the time came for me to order my very first cocktail, I ordered a gin and tonic.

It was love at first sip. It was bright and refreshing and I loved the resiny flavor. It reminded me of Christmas trees and happy times. It was clear and sparkly and even more importantly it looked sophisticated. I mean when you order your very first cocktail, you want to look sophisticated, or at least back then you did. You know, the dark ages before the internet. Now your first cocktail can be shared to your million followers and can be an over the top pineapple concoction that you are drinking while wearing a next to nothing bikini.

I was going for more of a The Thin Man movies type vibe.

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Braised Chicken with Olives, Capers and Prunes

Sep 20, 2018 · 18 Comments

The classic chicken marbella recipe gets a lighter spin in this Braised Chicken with Olives, Capers and Prunes. Chicken is browned to perfection and then braised in the oven with olives, capers, prunes and garlic. A tangy sweet vinegar and honey sauce pulls it all together and the slices of orange infuse their flavor into every bite!

The Classic Chicken Marbella Recipe

The classic chicken marbella recipe is said by some to be the finest recipe to come out of The Silver Palate Cookbook in the 1980's. Everyone was making it - and with good reason.

The chicken was first marinated overnight with olive oil, vinegar, prunes, olives, capers, orange juice, bay leaves, garlic, oregano and salt and pepper. The next day it was baked, along with the marinade and a cup of brown sugar and white wine!

It's a great recipe. The chicken tastes amazing. However, I always paused a little at that cup of brown sugar. So, when I saw this lightened up version from Cooking Light, I knew I just had to try it!

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Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Sep 19, 2018 · Leave a Comment

A review of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.

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Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

I loved this book from the very first sentence to the very last sentence.

The prologue begins in 1969 in the Marsh. From the first few sentences describing it “Marsh is a space of light, where grass grows in water, and water flows into the sky” you are pulled into the wonderful descriptive writing. But then we soon learn that we are being introduced to the Marsh through the discovery of a body, that of Chase Andrews.

Then we are taken back to 1952. Kya, six years old, watches her ma walking away from the house. She is wearing her fake alligator skin high heels and carrying a blue train case. Ma always turned around to wave when she reached the road, but this time she didn’t. That was the last time Kya saw her mother.

As her brothers and sisters leave one by one, Kya is left to fend for herself. Sometimes her pa is around and sometimes he isn’t. Kya learns to survive in the marsh.

I can’t even begin to describe the life Kya leads, without giving anything away. I don’t want there to be any spoilers because it unfolds so beautifully in the book.

The story is everything, heartbreaking, heartwarming, lyrical, moving, tragic and uplifting. I fell in love with Kya, her strength, her simple goodness.

Highly recommend: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.

I received an ARC of the book.

Giada's Everyday Caponata

Sep 18, 2018 · 34 Comments

This Caponata is so easy and delicious! It makes a great healthy snack or appetizer, perfect for game day! Served over polenta, it's a great light lunch or dinner.

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Healthier Appetizer or Light Main Dish!

I admit it, I am not very social. When I go to parties, you will typically find me standing next to the food table. Munching my way through just about everything. I'm not very good at small talk, but I am very good at eating!

I try to pick and choose a few healthier items in between the massive amounts of cheese that I consume. One of my favorite healthier snacks is Giada's Everyday Caponata!

I made this because my CSA kept giving me eggplant and I don't like eggplant. Feeling guilty for composting it every week, I searched for something to do with it and found this recipe and thought I'd give it a try.

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Mango Habanero Whiskey Sour

Sep 17, 2018 · 17 Comments

This Mango Habanero Whiskey Sour is the perfect blend of tart and heat! A delicious kick for a Whiskey Sour and it's so easy!

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Flavored Liquors Add so Much!

Normally I am not a fan of flavored store bought liquors. I prefer to make them myself like: DIY Ginger Liqueur, Vanilla Infused Rum, and Chamomile Pear Infused Vodka.

However, when my husband brought home some Ole Smokey Mango Habanero Whiskey, and I had a sip of it, I was in love! It was sweet and hot. The heat was almost a little too much for me, but I figured it would be perfect in a cocktail.

I wanted to make sure that all of the flavor of the mango and the habanero came through, so treating it as simple as possible was the goal. One of my favorite ways to drink whiskey is a simple whiskey sour, so Mango Habanero Whiskey Sour seemed like the perfect choice.

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How to Make a Grain Salad | Broccoli Quinoa Salad

Sep 16, 2018 · 26 Comments

This easy simple formula will allow you to make any kind of Grain Salad! Like this Broccoli Quinoa Salad with Grapes and Toasted Pumpkin Seeds.

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Add Grains to Bump Up a Main Dish Salad

I love salads. Especially main dish salads. Dinner in a bowl. Easy peasy. When I have a main dish salad, it has to have something in it to make it a little more substantial. Sometimes it's meat or chicken or fish, but lately my favorite way to bump up my salads is with grains. I absolutely love grain salads. Love, love, love them. I spent time googling and reviewing my cookbooks and came up with a formula. A formula for a grain salad that you can tweak into and endless number of combinations.

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Window Gazing with Coco Kitty

Sep 14, 2018 · 32 Comments

A few photos of our calico cat, Coco as she looks out the window. Admiring our new favorite garden flower, the Mexican Sunflower.

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Coco Kitty and the Window

On a whim earlier in the summer I bought a packet of seeds. I tossed them behind some low bushes in front of the dining room window. There were some zinnias, some cosmos and something called a Mexican Sunflower. The Mexican Sunflower was a huge success in more ways than one.

First of all it's tall, probably almost 6 feet tall, so we can easily see the flowers through the window. Second of all, the monarch butterflies love it!! I took some photos, and I'll share them on a garden post.

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How to Cold Brew Green Tea

Sep 14, 2018 · 6 Comments

Making Cold Brew Green Tea is so easy and creates a lovely mellow flavor and it's so easy to add flavorings. I used Lemon Verbena, but mint would also be lovely!

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Green Tea is so Good For You

I don't know about you, but every day it seems like some there is some new advice about coffee or tea. Well, mainly coffee. First it's good for you, then it's not, then it is.

Tea, however stays pretty consistent. Pretty much everyone agrees it's good for you, especially green tea. Some even say that it's one of the healthiest beverages on the planet. Sounds good to me.

I've been trying to drink a cup a day. Dragging the kettle out, filling it with water, killing time on Instagram while I wait for the water to boil, killing more time on Facebook while I wait for the tea to steep.

Then it hit me. I love cold brewed coffee. Why couldn't I cold brew tea. Turns out you can and it's crazy easy!

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Why Garden with Native Plants?

Sep 12, 2018 · 8 Comments

There are so many benefits to gardening with native plants! A good native plant nursery or really any garden center will help you get started!

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Garden Inspiration

On of the benefits of getting older is that you finally start doing the things that you keep saying that you are going to do! I can't count the number of times that I saw garden tours advertised in the paper and have commented that we really should go to this one or that one.

Well, last week we did! We went on native plant home garden tour! We had such a good time and I came home so inspired. I mean just look at that path in the above photo - how cute is that?

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Edamame Brown Rice Bowl with Salmon

Sep 11, 2018 · 5 Comments

Whether you call this a Salmon Bowl or a Brown Rice Bowl, you're going to call it delicious! This Salmon Bowl with Brown Rice and Edamame is easy and healthy!

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Eating Healthy Through the Week

I'm getting ready to go to my physical this year. I just turned 60 in May, so I am expecting there to be a slew of new tests. It seems like every milestone birthday lately has added some new test that I have to have. I'm not complaining, I feel blessed that I have access to preventative health care.

I am also trying to do my part to stay healthy. I try to do yoga four to five times a week, I use Yoga with Adriene. I try to get a little hike or something fun in on the weekends. So far that seems to be working good for me. I know I should do more cardio, but I really love the yoga, and I really don't love cardio.

I also am really trying to eat healthy through the week. Easy healthy recipes like: Healthy Chicken and Corn Nachos or Glazed Salmon with Zucchini and Bulgur. I relax a bit on the weekends...hello super deluxe pizza. The healthy recipes can be hit or miss, but this Edamame Brown Rice Bowl with Salmon is a huge hit. Really. I could eat it every day.

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Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Leeks and Sausage

Sep 9, 2018 · 22 Comments

Turn healthy sweet potatoes into a meal with these Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Leeks and Sausage.

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Sweet Potatoes are Good For You!

While I could never do a real low carb diet, I have found that paying attention to carbs is a good thing. Mainly high processed carbs like white bread and pasta. Lots of calories for not a lot of return, but I do love carbs! What I am trying to do now is switch over to more healthy carbs, like sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes or whole grain pasta instead of white pasta.

Sweet potatoes, with their bright orange color, are great for beta-carotene, fiber and other vitamins and minerals. Plus I love them!

While everyone is familiar with the sweet potato casseroles around Thanksgiving, with most stores offering them year round, it's super easy to have them just about anytime. Some of my favorites are Chicken, Sweet Potatoes and Olive Tapenade and Slow Cooker Spiced Beef Stew with Sweet Potatoes.

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Orange, Lemon and Lime Margarita

Sep 8, 2018 · 5 Comments

Whether you call this a Whole Fruit Margarita or an Orange, Lemon and Lime Margarita, you're going to call it delicious!!

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Favorite Cocktail? Tie Between Gin and Tonic and Margaritas

What's your favorite cocktail? If I had to choose, it would definitely be a tie between a Gin and Tonic or a Margarita. Most weekends I have a gin and tonic on Friday night and a margarita on Saturday. I like to give them equal love.

Margaritas are pretty easy to jazz up. You can use Pineapple Jalapeno Infused Tequila or Watermelon Infused Tequila and boom, you are good to go.

Gin and Tonics I tend to keep pretty classic, but this Italian Gin and Tonic is delicious. If you are in to coordinating your cocktail with your fall decor, it's lovely orange color is perfect. That would not be me, since I usually still have the pumpkin on the porch when we are getting ready to put out Christmas decorations!

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Coco Kitty Helping Garden

Sep 7, 2018 · 36 Comments

A few photos of my calico cat, Coco, helping me out in the garden. Hint...she's not really helping.

New Morning Routine

I don't know about you, but I am over summer. It's like a switch has gone off. I used to think it was just going back to work after summer break every year. Even as the going back to date kept getting further and further pushed back, until it was August 2nd! There is nothing about August 2nd in Tennessee that says fall, but it didn't matter, I was officially in fall mode.

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