The Ways of Her Home

Embracing the homeward call

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

Snapshot Saturday: So Much to Celebrate!

Hi there! Today I have some snapshots to share from a week that included a birthday, a bridal shower, and Valentine's Day! Birthday Girl Our firstborn had a birthday last weekend and it's so hard to believe the little girl in this photo is now twenty-three! This photo was taken the Easter she was just three years old and I had made her dress and hairbow to match her doll's. Too bad her doll isn't in the photo. Such memories! Look at that sweet face. We didn't get to see her on her birthday this year since she and her husband are living in Texas, but we had a fun FaceTime call with them. ***** Kitchen Shower My sisters and sister-in-law and I threw a kitchen bridal ... Read more

Fluff the Nest Friday: A Front Porch Ready for Company!

HAPPY FRIYAY, friends! (Are we still saying "Friyay" or is that out? I'll ask my girls.) Anywho, I'm taking our fluff post outside today to show you a couple of ways I've cleaned up my front porch. Late winter is when my porch really starts to look dingy and in need of some freshening up. It's tricky because it's not quite time to deck it all out with spring flowers and bunnies, but I need something to hold me over until then. I hosted a bridal shower at my house last Sunday for my nephew's fiancé (more to come soon!) and wanted the entrance to look a little more presentable. I couldn't do everything on my wish list, so I chose a few things that were the most manageable and affordable ... Read more

Cook by the Book: Vichyssoise

Hello! I know my purpose with these "Cook by the Book" posts is to try new recipes from my cookbooks but today I'm sharing an old recipe from a cookbook we've had many years. I served this back at our Winter Wonderland Tea as a warm start to our meal. It's a soup recipe pronounced /vi~shee~swaaz/ but sounds way more complicated and fancy-schmancy than it really is. Not convinced? Ok, here's my secret. This recipe comes from a children's cookbook! When our girls were little, we took them to see the Ratatouille movie and we all enjoyed it so much we purchased the Ratatouille What's Cooking? cookbook, and this was one of our favorite recipes. So, if a kid can make it, anyone can make it no ... Read more

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Hello and happy Valentine's Day! I have a few photos to share from our homeschool Valentine party with our field trip group. In addition to our monthly field trips, we also have holiday parties and one service project each year. February was my turn, with my friend Ahsley, to plan our gathering. We decided to combine our Valentine party with our service project for the year and put on a Valentine's brunch for a group of widows. Ashley works with a widow's ministry through her church which sees to the needs of widows throughout our city and proposed that we help the children host the leaders of the group (also widows themselves) who work tirelessly to minister to so many other women. We all ... Read more

Great Wolf Lodge Birthday Trip

Last week my son turned 12 years old! For our children's birthdays we've always given them the option of a birthday party at home or a day trip with just our little family. Some years are very low key and they just want to have a quiet birthday at home with no hoopla and other years are a little more festive. If they choose a day trip with the fam it's to somewhere an hour or two away and not an overnight. However, since the last two years have brought cancelled birthday plans for our son due to covid and bad weather, this year we made an exception and took an overnight trip to the Great Wolf Lodge in La Grange, Georgia. This place did not disappoint! It was clean and full of fun! Very ... Read more

Teach Them Tuesday: Bonding Through Books

Reading is a family favorite in our house! When I was growing up, I spent more of my time outside playing and climbing trees than I did inside reading, so I wasn't a strong reader but now I've spent my entire adulthood soaking up all the books I can get my hands on (since climbing trees is out for me now, ha!). And I wanted my kids to be strong readers, so I started reading to them as early as possible...the womb. I had a little basket of baby books in the nursery just waiting for baby, so while pregnant, I'd sit in the rocking chair and read those little books to my bump. Sounds silly, I know! Read-alouds have probably been our favorite part of homeschooling. In fact, my son says that's ... Read more