The Ways of Her Home

Embracing the homeward call

For My Friends Who Aren’t Moms

Happy Saturday, friends! I'd like to say a little something today to my dear friends who aren't mothers. I am blessed to have several friends who aren't married and don't have children. I say I'm blessed because friendship with these ladies has so much to offer such as their time and their perspective. I was having a lovely tea lunch with two such friends a little over a year ago. I had a lot going on with my children at the time including planning a wedding for my oldest daughter. Because neither of these sweet women are married and neither have children, I'd purposed in my mind ahead of time not to talk constantly about my children's activities because I didn't want to make them feel ... Read more

You’re a Gooood Mama!

I was a new mama to a sweet baby girl and wanted to be the very best mommy I could be. I wasn't ever looking for compliments, just maybe a little encouragement. I remember walking into church one evening with a blanket wrapped around my baby when an approaching woman wearing a concerned expression commented, "Honey, you've got that baby too warm in that blanket!" I slid the blanket off my little one, tucked it into the diaper bag, and walked into the auditorium. As I was making my way to a pew, I started to pass another lady, this one displaying a warm smile. 'Ahh, a friendly face. This will be encouraging!", I thought to myself. As we exchanged pleasantries, she wrapped her hand around ... Read more

Happy Monday!

Good Monday morning, friends! I've been a little MIA lately, but all is well. Between homeschooling, a senior year, soccer season, field trips, a car in the shop for 3 weeks, and an unexpected surgery for my daughter....well, I've had a lot going on and my family always comes first for me, so blogging has been pushed to the back burner the last month. But I just wanted to pop on here and give a hello and let you know I'll be back soon. I have had sooo many ideas for content swirling through my head. So much to share! But for now, I'll leave you with a little something that made me smile this weekend. This rose bush is thorny, intrusive, and unattractive for most of the year, BUT for a ... Read more

Irish Tea Party

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Two years ago, I gifted my oldest daughter a subscription to Tea Time magazine and the first issue she received included recipes for an Irish tea. This magazine along with some newly thrifted green and gold teacups inspired her to host a St. Patrick's Day tea for our family and her then boyfriend, now husband (nothing like some good cooking to seal the deal, right!) As you'll see from the photos, she put on the loveliest tea time complete with a delightful menu served at a beautiful table! She cooked all afternoon and then set the table, pulling anything green from around the house. Each teacup held an Irish Breakfast teabag (except for my son's since he ... Read more

Easy Irish Supper

St. Patty's Day is tomorrow! We don't go all out around here but I do try and cook a meal with an Irish theme. Here's a quick meal idea for St. Patrick's Day that I prepared last year and will do again this year. Since my daughter has an out-of-town game tomorrow night, I'm going to go ahead and serve this meal tonight. Irish sausage, cabbage steaks, and potato stacks! I didn't take any fancy plating photos last year, but boy this meal was so tasty, and I can't wait to eat it tonight! I roast the sausage and cabbage steaks on one pan. For the cabbage, I slice 1 or 2 cabbage heads (depending on how many I'm serving) into 1" slices and lay flat on a sheet pan that's either greased ... Read more

Snapshot Saturday (on Monday)

I didn't get my Saturday post done on time this weekend and here it is Sunday night now with me trying to decide if it's ok to post my "Snapshot Saturday" on a Monday, haha. Kind of reminds me of a cute I Love Lucy episode called "The Club Election" about Lucy and Ethel's Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League and it starts with this little conversation between Ricky and Ethel. Ricky: "Anything special on your mind?" Ethel: “Yeah. I came up to tell Lucy that the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League is meeting on Friday this week.” Ricky: “The Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League is meeting on Friday.” Ethel: “Yeah.” Ricky: “I thought you always met on Thursday.” Ethel: “Oh, ... Read more

Cook by the Book: Chocolate Chip Cookies from Magnolia Table

I know just about everyone has their own favorite recipe for chocolate chip cookies. There are a million versions out there, right? So, when I saw the chocolate chip cookie recipe in Joanna Gaines's Magnolia Table cookbook, I have to admit I passed it by, assuming it wouldn't be anything new or special and focused on her other recipes that were new to me. But then my friend Missy mentioned that another friend had brought her some amazing chocolate chip cookies after a surgery, and they were the very best she'd ever tasted! So, she asked her friend for the recipe and her friend told her they came from this very cookbook! When Missy shared this with me, I knew I needed to revisit the recipe ... Read more

All You “Knead” is Love! A Kitchen Shower for the Bride-to-Be

I have another nephew getting married this year to a wonderful girl! My sisters, my sister-in-law, and I all pitched in to throw her a bridal shower with a kitchen theme. Our bride enjoys cooking and trying different foods and is quite capable in the kitchen, so this type of shower was well-suited for her. We were thankful for this occasion which allowed us to honor the bride and meet more of her family and friends. Y'all, this girl has some really sweet bridesmaids! I like to look on Etsy for invitations that I can download, customize, and print. They have so many great designs for all occasions! I found the cutest template for a kitchen shower invitation from Pumpkin Pi Design which ... Read more