I’m always looking for ways to make satisfying dishes that omit carbs while still bringing on flavor. I’ve been eyeing “egg roll in a bowl” recipes appearing on my social media channels and finally decided to make my own healthy version to find out what the fuss was all about. Let me tell you, you need to try this recipe! Not only does it make a huge batch, the prep is quick and everything comes easily in a large wok.
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Like reacquainting with an old friend, time spent at my local art museum always invigorates me. Even better is a visit during the annual floral exhibit that ignites my spirits as New England transitions into spring. I took advantage of the Flora in Winter at the Worcester Art Museum (WAM) in Massachusetts as a calendar catalyst to celebrate the start of March and my intention to jump into spring mode. It was just what I needed! To help you get on board with the arrival of spring, join me as I tour world-renowned art pieces juxtaposed with interpretive floral displays.
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I love visiting charming New England seaside towns during the off season, and a few days stay in Rockport, Massachusetts didn’t disappoint. Seriously, by taking a wintertime visit to Cape Ann you can truly appreciate quintessential New England without the crowds. The highlights of a girls’ getaway with my sister were soaking up the natural beauty of the coast on a relaxed timeline. We enjoyed up the harborside area of Rockport on foot and explored Gloucester with short car-ride excursions.
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I’m feeling energized and inspired with the new year ahead to make some positive changes as part of my annual goals. My biggest priority this year is to “lighten up,” which impacts many aspects of my life. I’m obsessed with my one one-word theme: dandelion. I chose this word to visually symbolize what I want to achieve this year: to feel lighter in mind and body. When trying to figure out my word, I was searching for the antithesis of words like weighty, heavy, substantial.
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It’s the truth. When I sleep at night, I often find my thoughts stray to adventures across the pond. It may be a slightly outdated version of London today, but the city I remember comes to life in my dreams. If I close my eyes, I can still vividly recall the nighttime city sounds when I lived there many years ago. How I long for my next visit.
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I’ve been deeply contemplating my 2024 goals over the past week. On the last day of 2023, I had an epiphany on my one-word theme to set the stage for the new year. Perfect timing! Before I get ahead of myself, let me explain my process with defining my goals that has evolved over the past few years. Now, I commit my goals in writing and track them in a daily journal. I no longer make New Year’s resolutions. In my experience, resolutions are usually short lived, unsuccessful and frustrating.
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Looking back at the holiday season from last year, I thought this blog post was worth resharing. Perhaps it’ll help inspire you as you prioritize what’s most important and how you spend your time. I can only hope I’ll look back at the end of this season and feel the same sense of holiday contentment as I did last year!
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Perhaps you have a favorite Thanksgiving you’ll cherish forever or a stretch of years when it was most memorable. Maybe it was the years your grandparents hosted or after you got married and carved out your own traditions. For me, it was a long stretch of time when the women in my family would gather on Thanksgiving Eve to bake pies with Mom. So. Many. Pies.
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We all know how the memes start flying around social media when pumpkin spice hype starts too soon. I totally get it. Pumpkin spice is a fall weather friend; I won’t partake in it anytime close to the last divine days of summer. We’re definitely in the peak of autumn. IT’S TIME! Gimme some pumpkin spice!
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I credit my time living in the United Kingdom for acquainting me with this rustic French dish. Before then, I had never heard of ratatouille nor considered combining summer garden vegetables together to make this hearty side. I can recall it served several different ways including with a Sunday roast dinner, a vegetarian stew in a crock or a spread on crusty bread. Through my experiences living in England, I discovered ratatouille and came back home knowing it would be something I’d make on my own.
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In my New England garden, the optimum period to pluck hydrangea blooms to dry indoors is when summer turns to fall and before it frosts. For the best vase drying results, patiently wait until they’ve already started to dry on the plants. From there, the rest of the process is simple. I turn my dining room into a drying station where I’ll collect specimens at the end of the season when I don’t mind cutting the glorious buds from my flower garden.
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As I promised, I’m sharing my first-year beginner experience growing vegetables and herbs in galvanized steel raised garden beds. Overall, I’m thrilled. I’ve learned so much. I loved the anticipation watching vegetables I planted grow. I will consider this year my starting point. Even if it was the wettest summer in recent history which compromised the growing season, I’m ready for more. I’m already planning to invest in more raised beds next year.
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