I love the saying: Enjoy the satisfaction that comes from doing little things well.

Entertaining can be so overwhelming for many, so I always tell people to start small.

Choose one aspect of entertaining that you want to improve upon the next time you have company over.

For me, I usually think of the drinks last minute. Which means I set out the glasses (sometimes that isn’t even done), water, wine, and whatever drinks we’ll be serving.

But ice and the details are always after-thoughts, and this is one small thing that I’d like to improve upon!

Recently I tried something new.

Instead of filling my beverage jar with a drink, I decided to fill it with a potted plant.

How fun is that?

It took me about 5 minutes to put this drink station together.

Burlap inside the beverage jar.

Next, Trader Joe’s $2.99 basil plant.

Very inexpensive!

How to set up a drink station with fresh basil:

1. Establish a small serving table that will hold the drinks, cups, ice, napkins, etc.

2. Rinse the leaves of a small potted herb plant and shake to dry (without compromising the dirt in the pot).

3. Fill a beverage jar with the potted herb plant that can be used for the drinks, such as fresh basil. Wrap the pot with burlap.

4. Set out glasses and napkins.

5. Set out bottled drinks, ice, and pre-sliced lemon or lime.

6. Encourage your guests to make their own drinks, snipping off a fresh leaf and adding to the drink with a slice of citrus.

Back to starting small. Remember entertaining is not about making everything look over-the-top spectacular. It’s about creating a warm environment for your guests with touches of “you.”

Don’t get caught up in what others are doing. Take your personality, the way you were made, and use it to create a party that your guests will love.

What’s your favorite way to set up a drink station?

This post is for local friends who live in Southern Oregon. Read on for a fun Rosewood Vintage  party giveaway …

The inspiration to host a Fiesta Party came when we realized we hadn’t seen some of our friends in a while, and we were missing them. I think we all miss our friends, we get so busy in life. So it’s fun to bring everyone together for a party!

We love our friends, eating good food, and talking late into the evening with them. To me, that is living. It’s what we’re created to do, to commune with one another.

Around the same time of my party idea a few weeks ago, my friend, Lacie–who bought a new business called Rosewood Vintage Rentals in our hometown with her business partner, Maria–asked me to host a party that included their rentals. How fun is that?

They came to my home, delivered the 12 foot rustic table and mix-matched chairs, and a few other accessories.

Their service was excellent.

They do all the work for you. Deliver, set -up, make sure everything is in the right place.

Love the long rustic table. This one seated 12.

And each chair so unique.

Cool side tables and a pop of color.

Candelabra and extras to choose from.

Here’s what I love about their cool rental biz. They have unique and vintage pieces for any event, which may be a dinner party (hand in the air!), weddings, showers, or other events. They also have sofas, upholstered chairs, mismatched chairs, church pews, vanities, and the farm tables and chairs all for very affordable prices! (They are located in Medford, Oregon, and available by appointment.)

Another idea is you can rent their pieces for photo-sessions! Either the client or the photographer can come and rent a piece or two, or a sofa … I love those sofa shots out in the fields.

For my Fiesta Party table, I had a blast putting it together and using what I already had. I borrowed the blue glasses from my friend, Judy. Used my standard black and white Courtly Check chargers (MacKenzie-Childs), green Dollar Tree plates, and olive green tinted wine glasses again from Dollar Tree. I pulled out red and blue cloth napkins, and ran a vibrant Mexican colored scarf down the center, with burlap on top.

For the flowers I went to my friend’s house and picked dainty blossoms from her garden, adding them to repurposed cans.

The menu was easy. I prepared a Chicken Mole dish with a rice/quinoa mix, Ground Turkey & Black Rice enchiladas, and my guests brought the rest. Amazing salads and appetizers, chips and dips. Probably my favorite appetizer that goes so well with the season at hand was Shrimp & Avocado Cocktails. We indulged in tasty foods, great conversation, Pandora playing in the background, and we ended with pie and fresh strawberries. I made a Sangria for our specialty drink and we also enjoyed Mexican beers and red wines.

The night was perfect for guests – a slight breeze in the air.

We all said our good byes until next time, and when we went to bed, my husband and I turned to each other with a light kiss on the lips, and said, we are thankful.

Thankful not only for a party, but for more memories made from being with the ones that we love.

Now for the FUN GIVEAWAY for all my friends who live in southern Oregon! (The delivery for the giveaway is free for local people who live within 15 miles of 97501. If you live outside of this area, delivery charges will apply. )

YOU have a chance to WIN a delivery for your own party! Anyone can comment today on this post, but you have to live in the Medford, southern Oregon area (listed above) to WIN!

WHAT TO WIN. One night rental of a 12′ rustic farm table and 12 mismatched chairs to be delivered to YOU! (Deadline is September 30, 2013. Available dates only.)

COMMENT TO WIN. EITHER HERE on the blog or you can comment over on RE Facebook page!

If you could host a party for 12, what type of party would it be? Do you already have a list of 12 that you could invite?

DO THE FOLLOWING. And come back and leave a comment letting me know.

Follow Rosewood Vintage on Facebook
Follow RE on Facebook
Share this giveaway to your local friends on your Facebook page.
Follow Rosewood Vintage on Twitter
Follow RE on Twitter
Follow Rosewood Vintage on Instagram
Follow RE on Instagram
Follow RE on Pinterest (Sandy Coughlin)
Take a quick peek at the Rosewood Vintage website

Pin one of these photos today to your Pinterest page.

You have 11 chances that you can WIN!

Good luck!

The delivery for the giveaway is free for local. (Within 15 miles of 97501), if the winner is outside of that area delivery charges will apply. Contest ends Friday at 11:59 pm PT. Winner announced on RE Facebook page Saturday, May 25, 2013. I was not paid for this post today; all opinions are my own.

It’s fun to get to know other bloggers, and over the years many of us have traveled on various trips together. It’s really a treat to visit them in their homes and their kitchens! I love Robyn’s “In the Kitchen” series that she writes on her blog, Add a Pinch, with thoughtful interviews with other bloggers.  She wrote a beautiful post on Lori, here. Good job, Robyn!

When we flew in to San Diego, and got to Lori’s home, we enjoyed some mighty tasty appetizers and drinks. It was a typical sunny California day. Seriously, I could live there. SUNSHINE!

Good times with Heidi, Lori, and Carrie.

And then she treated us to one of her recipes from her new book for dinner – Spinach and Cheese-Stuffed Manicotti. You can also find this recipe, here. (Yum!) I love Lori’s recipes because she tells you how to lighten them up (calories), change them up, as in what to substitute, if they are gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegetarian. Brilliant!

This particular recipe is vegetarian with spinach and other cheeses. Manicotti is fun because you can really make it your own and have fun with the ingredients!

Lori is quite the entertaining gal. We sat in her formal dining room and her family ate with us. I love family-style meals. We got to know her husband and charming son, Recipe Boy!

The next day, before we left for the Big Traveling Potluck, we hiked down at Torrey Pines State Park.

Beautiful – perfect weather.

We had a little excitement along the way, when a rattlesnake decided to scare the bejevies out of us.

California dreaming. Love that song, even though it is about the winter months!

Lori for sure has hospitality down. You can tell she’s a pro – and she practices exactly what she writes about on her blog, and her book.

Thank you for your hospitality in sunny California, Lori!

What’s your favorite “spin” on making manicotti?

This girlfriend dinner party with a beautiful Rhododendron Tabletop is a prime example how coming together over good food and drink, with excellent company, can benefit the soul. Here’s how it happened …

My girlfriends were coming for dinner, so I wanted to set a pretty table. Inspired by our bursting rhododendron bush in the front yard, I took my scissors and went snip-snip.

Grabbing a few canning jars, I stuffed the flowers in the jars and pulled out an already ironed tablecloth and cloth napkins. Totally girlfriend-friendly.

More importantly, I made 3 delicious salads, bought Costco’s new Fresh Beet & Jicama salad (because I wanted to try it), and served crunchy bread. Everyone brought drinks! And I made a delicious gluten-free chocolate dessert (recipe to come) which I served with Trader Joe’s Coffee Bean Blast ice cream. Yum!

Girlfriend dinners are so fun. You can get the pretty, girlie stuff out, make an all-salad dinner … it’s just easy!

Spinach and shrimp salad: Avocados, spicy pecans, baby heirloom tomatoes, sweet onion, and cucumbers. I dressed the salad with a light balsamic glaze and Trader Joe’s White Balsamic Vinegar.

Fresh garden salad, with lettuce just harvested from our garden: Heirloom tomatoes, chopped chicken, goat cheese, sweet candied pecans, dried cherries, avocado, and grapes. I dressed the salad with Trader Joe’s Pear Vinaigrette dressing.

Farmer’s Red Potato Salad: I’ll just say that by the end of the evening, everyone wanted the recipe! Delish!

I love the saying: Judge your success by the degree that you’re enjoying peace, health, and love.

Well, it was true after spending 5 hours with this group of ladies. Not only did we eat healthy foods, but there was a lot of love flowing around the table, and the entire night just had “peace” written all over it. Everyone was relaxed and enjoying true fellowship.

I always get texts or emails the next day. I had taken a risk and invited someone new that most of us didn’t know, and she sent me this note. It’s important to keep meeting new people and introducing our friends to one another. It just makes our lives richer.

Thanks for all the yummy flavors you created and put together last night. It was a great evening with beautiful women and delicious and nutritious food! Thank you for inviting me!

Which I love.

A peaceful night with good food and old and new friends.

Have you thought about hosting a girlfriend dinner party, or if not, what’s holding you back?

Happy Friday, Friends!

If you’ve followed me on Instagram or Facebook, you probably saw we recently hosted a Cinco de Mayo Party. We were joking with our guests because we actually hosted it on May 4th, so wouldn’t it be Quatro de Mayo? Whatever the name, we had a great time with the people that we love!

I love to call these times with friends “home-cooked moments.”

We bring together like-minded guests from different parts of our lives, and the recipes that my friends bring are always so good! So yummy and just fabulous all the way around. Like Judy’s appetizer.

Here’s a funny spin to the night. As the guests were coming through the front door and the women were gathering in the kitchen, everyone was dressed in such bright colors. Except for me. I had a bland black summer dress on.

It was very hot outside, for May in Oregon, and I was roasting. I had gone to my closet and pulled the closest and coolest piece of clothing I could find. My friends were teasing me, that I needed something more cheerful!

I can be spontaneous, I told my girlfriends.

Off to my closet I went, quickly yanking a new summer Target dress off the hanger. Nice and cheerful, I was back in the kitchen in about 2 minutes.

For a picture with my beautiful friends–all fabulous cook!

To start off the night, we enjoyed tasty appetizers from my friend Judy. She brought Mexican Shrimp Cocktails in martini glasses, all prepared and ready to enjoy! We had other amazing appetizers, salads, and Chicken Mole for dinner. Recipes to come!

When’s the last time you hosted friends for a home-cooked moment in your home?

I was compensated by Tyson Foods to produce this post.

Hey friends, I just wanted to give you a little reminder that The Countdown to a Better You program is still underway. May 3rd marked 50 days to summer, can you believe that? So jump on board as we inch closer to summer, with guilt-free recipes, like the one I’m sharing today!

All you need is love. All you need is love. All you need is love, love. Love is all you need.

I’d like the change the words to this Beatles song to … all you need is cheese, crackers. Fruit is all you need.

Some people are so good and creative at making killer appetizers, but I find the easiest appetizer to put in front of your guests when you’re in a pinch is cheese, crackers, and fresh fruit! And a little fig jam, if you have it.

In our backyard, our strawberries are finally coming on strong right now! It’s going to be hard to keep up with what our beds produce, so the next few weeks we’ll be enjoying pies, tarts, eating them for breakfast with Greek yogurt, smoothies, … you name it, there’s nothing like enjoying a good homegrown strawberry for any course of the meal!

The color, flavors, and passion for berries started for me as a little girl in Oregon, when my mom would bring flats home and we’d make fresh strawberry jam! I’ve posted about Mom’s easy method, here – How to Flip and Seal the Jars, but another way to enjoy them, especially with your guests, is to serve them in an easy appetizer.

Appetizers are sometimes the last thing I think about when we are entertaining, I guess because if no one is bringing them, I know they are easy to put together. Last minute.

Cheese, crackers, and fresh fruit!

Goat cheese, fresh strawberries from the garden, fig jam, and Matez’ Tortas de Aceite (which are a traditional Spanish crisp bread made with 24% Spanish olive oil. They are produced entirely by hand – each torta with its own distinctive hand-patted shape.)

I have to say, not a drop was left on the platter as we transitioned over to our outdoor dining area.

I’ll leave you with few thoughts about appetizers. I love appetizers because it’s what your guests first partake in–often coming in from the weary world of work, family, problems … life– usually served with a glass of wine. It’s the course when your guest sit back with a sigh of relief, knowing that it’s now time to relax, unwind, let our hair down, and get to know each other.

Appetizers are the start of listening, staying, and connecting.

And they don’t always have to be fancy.

What are your favorite 3-4 ingredients to serve for a last-minute appetizer?

If you’re looking for more platter appetizer ideas, I wrote this post at Answers.com How to Make a Knockout Appetizer Platter, excellent for large-group parties!

This past weekend was so wonderful, in so many ways. We were able to spend Friday night with dear friends, and when we got back to our house – the boys were home from college.

Can anything be more joyful? Happy sons who love coming home. We are blessed! Hugs, kisses, finding the pets, jumping in the pool, checking out what’s cooking on the stove …

Today, as I think back to this past weekend, I’m thankful for the women in my life who’ve mothered me these past 16 years.

Each has given me such a variety of experiences and knowledge that has worked together to help me parent my 3 children. We do learn from one another. I continue to learn. This act of mothering is sacred work, a job I cannot take lightly.

For me, it’s about grace. A daily lesson learned as a mother that when I fail, because things will never be perfect, I try again. I start the day by finding this grace in my quiet time. My friends help me see this, too, because those of us with kids are all in this motherhood journey together – no matter our ages.

Saturday was a new day. I love the freshness of a new day.

Our family went on an adventure to the Oregon coast with another family, but first, inspired by a beautiful picture I saw in Rachael Ray’s recent magazine, I whipped up a yummy breakfast for the family.

It’s one of the prettiest way to cook eggs or to serve to your guests! I think this will be a new summer favorite of mine.

Eggs in Pepper Rings
2 large peppers
10-12 eggs
Salt and pepper

Take a couple of large bell peppers, cutting horizontally and removing any seeds, and place the rings on a hot grill.

I used pasteurized organic butter and lightly sautéed one side first, then flipped each ring over, cracking an egg in each center.

Fry the egg ring (over medium-low heat). Lightly salt and pepper.

You can cook on one side for about 5-8 minutes, or like I did, flip it over for a couple of minutes.

We served it with some homemade potatoes and tofu sausage.

Nice and healthy! A great way to start off the day.

Our journey on Saturday took us to Cape Blanco State Park. It was a stunning day.

A great way to spend time with the family.

Oregon really is one of the prettiest states, and here you can see why!

I spent the day with a mom who is one of the best moms I know. The love she has for her kids, grandkids, and people in her life gushes from her. It’s so inspiring and real, it’s almost tangible.

I say almost, because it’s then my job to take what I’ve learned from her, and to apply it to my life.

It’s a circle of grace.

Beautiful and free.

What touched you the most about Mother’s Day weekend?

We were all set for company last night. The table was set. Lights were on. Music was playing. We had a little fire going in the fire pit off to the side. Appetizers were out and the food was prepped and ready to go inside.

My friend Jeannie was coming for a casual Mother’s Day dinner. Nothing fancy, I told her, just healthy and light. A good weeknight meal.

Jeannie is the one who’s helped us a lot with our yard, sharing plants and dividing bulbs from her yard, and all she wanted for Mother’s Day (when I asked her) was quality time. She’s not big on “stuff.”

And then, of course, we threw in something “earthy” for her gift; something she’d really appreciate.

Jeannie’s Mother’s Day gift was she would be able to cut any head of lettuce from the garden before she left our place.

Seriously, there is nothing like homegrown lettuce, and ’tis the season – in Oregon – for the most buttery, tender lettuce you’ll ever find.

I’ve known Jeannie for 30 years. She’s been more than a mom to me, and I’ll leave it at that. She’s one of the most wonderful women in my life. Here we are sporting our (unplanned) pink pants!

Dinner was prepared inside: Red Lentil and Sweet Potato Stew and a fresh garden salad with shrimp, cilantro, feta cheese, cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes, and avocado. And fresh crunchy warm bread. And dessert that Jeannie brought.

We were just getting ready to sit down in the great outdoors …

And then it happened.

Thunder and lightening. Darkness and pouring down rain.

So we quickly moved the entire table setting and party to the inside.

I was serving a delicious stew recipe anyway, so it felt nice and cozy eating inside rather than outside.

What I love about hospitality is that it doesn’t have to be perfect. You make changes as you go, pick things up and move them. People will cancel on you, and unordinary things sometimes take place, but you learn to go with the flow.

And it all works out in the end. And that’s one thing I’ve learned from Jeannie over the years, to bend and be flexible.

I’ve shared this before, and I think it’s time to share it again:

Many of us are crippled from birth. The backbone of our standard for living comes fused into unyielding rules and regulations. We are rigid in our determination to control life’s course and outcome.

We’re sure, for example, how people ought to look, behave, and respond. Things have to be done a certain way – our way. Then real life sneaks up and whacks us from behind, seeking to break our unbending back and our stiff neck, threatening to paralyze us.

There is a cure. We are offered opportunity to exercise the suppleness of godly grace and perspective. Each time life throws us a punch, we can do a deep-knee bend, forcing our muscles of faith, hope and understanding to stretch.

Eventually that brittle backbone will grow strong and supple, bending with the rhythms of grace, yet standing tall and firm in the face of compromise.

All of this requires considerable daily “give.” Such give is not a one-time choice but a lifestyle of generosity, spontaneity, and openness to truth.

How often I have thought that if I could give just one gift to my children, it would be the golden gift of flexibility.  –(Susan L. Lenzkes)

As the night came to a close, Jeannie went to the garden, in the rain, and cut herself a nice big head of lettuce to take home with her. (Top photo)

Thank you, Jeannie, for the gifts you’ve taught and given to me in life!

How do you handle situations where you have to make a quick change? Have you learned the gift of being flexible? 

When Mom left us girls 16 years ago, after a long bout of cancer, it has given us a reason to celebrate and to prioritize time together as sisters, exactly the way Mom would have wanted it to be.

We invest in each other’s lives, and learn to love more every day.

A few weeks ago we went to lunch, then worked on a project in my eldest sister’s home. We can’t help but laugh and have fun together — every single time.

We’ve decide to call it beautiful–that Mom is free from pain and the horrible disease of cancer and is up with God–instead of calling it wrong.

Yes, cancer sucks. Big time sucks. It’s never good, but now years later, we take the heartbreak and we admit it. Life is beautiful and worth celebrating, even when our loved ones leave us.

And … we make chocolate covered strawberries together.

My sister Di showed us how, and we had our share of giggles when the chocolate clumped together, we experimented with trying to get it smooth, and of course we ate more than we were putting on the strawberries.

Here’s our recipe. One I can totally recommend for you to make for your Mother’s Day celebration.

Nice and easy – and fresh and beautiful.

And our 2 tips to share if your chocolate clumps together:

1. Microwave chocolate 30 seconds at a time and stir, stir, stir for glossiness.

2. Strawberries should not be stored in refrigerator longer than 1 hour, as condensation drops may collect on the chocolate.

We dream of Mom to this day, but we have to have the boldness and courage–the belief that it’s okay that she is gone, and the hope of seeing her again–to call it beautiful.

We have to celebrate the fact that we can still dream. And we still have each other.

Do you have any tips with making chocolate covered strawberries?

It’s Mother’s Day this Sunday! So today I’m going to tell you why I love my step-Mom, Ginny, and share with you a basic Risotto recipe.

It’s actually not complicated. I love Ginny because she’s one of the most giving, loving, dedicated women I know. She’s very easy to love.

She’s a God+People Lover.
She loves my Dad.
And she loves my Dad’s family – US!

When my mom left this world, it left such a hole in my heart. You know, the kind that you never think will be filled with that kind of love again.

It’s true, Ginny is not my mom, but she is a substitute mom. She understands me, our family, our needs. She’s a nurse, volunteer, mother, grandmother, seamstress, amazing hostess, loves to read and sing (beautifully), loves her family and … did I say it? She loves us as if we were hers.

Besides of all those wonderful things, I think she is beautiful.

And she loves to cook. She belongs to a Recipe Club with her girlfriends and daughter. Fun!

Today I’m sharing a delicious Risotto recipe that I served with this incredible Pork Chops with Glazed Apricots recipe.

Most of you who’ve read RE for a long period of time know that I love white dishes! So it only makes sense, that I grabbed one of my white platters to serve the food on.

The food was amazing. The company was great. Oh, and did you know that in Italy, a simple, plain risotto is often served as a first course or side dish to compliment a main course meat dish? I served it alongside the pork chops, but thought you’d enjoy that little tidbit, incase you’ve never been to Italy. I haven’t, but hope to one day!

Back to Ginny. Even though I think of my mom when I’m around Ginny, they are good thoughts. Not of replacement or anger, but of love and thankfulness.

Do you have a substitute mom in your life that you love? Or, what’s your favorite way to serve risotto?

Click over for the Pork Chops with Glazed Apricots recipe.

I’m a big fan of breaking some rules. Like knocking on your neighbor’s door late at night with a warm loaf of zucchini bread in one hand, and a pair of scissors in the other.

It’s not something a normal person does, making your neighbor come to the door in jammies and slippers after 8 pm.

But when I see their eyes staring into my hands, wide and curious, catching the aroma of the warm gift – then everything seems okay.

Here’s a loaf of warm zucchini bread, I say.

Oh, and do you mind if I snip a few of your camellia buds while I’m here?

The door closes. I feel a sense of relief. They liked my warm bread. YAY!

And I get some fresh flowers for my house.

The camellia bush at their front door is more than stunning. It’s gigantic and awesome!

I snip a few blossoms and place in a basket. And then I run home. I feel like a happy young girl.

Home to put the buds in a low-line vase and to enjoy throughout my home.

And to enjoy in my office space.

Beautiful blossoms are here one day and then gone the next. So I figure, it doesn’t hurt to ask!?

It’s a win win. Hospitality and happiness.

It’s the hospitality of sharing a warm loaf of zucchini bread in exchange for a little bit of happiness.

By the way, I recently found this recipe that my Mom typed up years ago.

I love her handwritten notes.

There’s still a little pang in my heart when I see Mom’s handwriting, because it makes me miss her to this day!

I love how she wrote who it’s from (my sister, Di) and then … Excellent!

Oops, Mom, you mis-spelled “raisens” ha-ha.

Here’s a picture of my lovely mother and sister, Di, perfect for the week of Mother’s Day!

Do you have an heirloom recipe that you’ve pulled out of the archives this week to enjoy for Mother’s Day?

A potluck. For a blogger it’s more than a covered dish and sharing of foods.

It’s about sharing lives and stories, learning more about awesome brands, getting filled up with plenty of inspiration – and it all happened last weekend in sunny California with Maggy and Pam of Three Many Cooks, and Erika, from Ivory Hut, as they hosted The Big Traveling Potluck. (Plus a thank you to the many hands behind the scenes who worked so hard to put this event together, including the amazing duo, Smith Bites.)

Coming together for a retreat at one of the most beautiful places, Plateau Edge, was a great opportunity for new bloggers to get to know old (well, not in age, just in blogging years), to reconnect with friends, and for me personally – I LOVED meeting for the first time some of my online friends.

Finally, a chance to have “in real life” conversations with some of my favorite people!

The Potluck gals planned and worked so hard to provide a “first on the west coast Potluck” event in California’s wine country, probably one of the most inspirational conferences I’ve been to. Not to mention, the menu was out of this world. (Again, such a fantastic job, Maggy, Pam, and Erika – 3 beautiful hearts full of hospitality!)

Harry & David sponsored my trip, and they were also one of the Potluck’s sponsors as well.

We were up in the countryside of Temecula, California, among the avocado groves and gorgeous views. It was a first time experience for me to tour avocado groves and learn more about the organic growing process in California. Here’s a post with a great recap about the avocados.

And, did I mention, we ate avocados the entire weekend? I mean, have you ever had an “avocado toast bar” for breakfast? DELICIOUSNESS!

We listened to a group of terrific speakers, including my friends Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman, and Helen Jane. Also speaking was Melissa Lanz, Matt Armendariz, Jeannine Harvey, and Barrett Ward. (Thanks Heidi for the photo.)

And finally, my two sweet sisters Lori (Recipe Girl) and Gaby (What Gaby’s Cooking) did food demos because they each have brand new cookbooks out! So proud of these girls! Click on over and check out (BUY) their new books – you won’t be disappointed – they are fantastic!

The goal of the potluck: It’s really about relationships more than food.

The theme of the weekend was “Invest in Yourself,” and all of the talks were geared toward what that means for us as bloggers and food writers.

Each speaker gave me a lot to think about–it’s not about blogging numbers, climbing the popularity ladder, comparing yourself with others, becoming famous or writing a book. Each day of living is really about becoming a better person, not just a better blogger. I’m turning 50 this year and I think I’ve become wiser and more savvy in these areas, especially in saying no and prioritizing my time. You just can’t do it all, there’s no room for cliches and circles, and I don’t want to waste energy on stuff that doesn’t matter. Instead I’m putting my energy into embracing, loving, and supporting people – online and in my home and own backyard.

We were stretched–maybe a tiny bit–out of our comfort zones, as the speakers gave very honest talks.

Follow along with my Instagram shots and a few pictures from my big-girl camera for what this “Potluck” was all about.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Potluck. Building your own plate, with whole foods and organic goodness fresh from the earth. Many bloggers brought goodies, jams, sauces in true potluck form. It was hard to try them all. (Picky Palate’s delicious chocolate muffins.)

Food. Remembering dishes and smells and tastes. Especially with cilantro, avocados, jalapeños and lime. (Thank you wonderful sponsors for such healthy, delicious food!)

Memories. Many memories of a little girl at church potlucks, tables stretched out for miles with homemade food, came to mind.

Touches. Simple flowers, like these in a jar.

Conversation. People mingling, talking about life, getting to know one another.

Reconnecting. Old friends coming together and bringing in new. (Sort of a Harry & David reunion from this trip last summer, and this trip last fall.)

Authenticity. Sharing stories and experiences, sometimes with tears, laughter, and even babies! (Maria, Lori, Heidi, Ali, Jenny, Amanda, and me. Oh, and Baby Caleb.)

Learning: Walking with someone, carrying their burden, honored to hear their story and learn from them. It  may not be the most popular blogger you learn from, it may be a new “baby” blogger–someone new to the blogging world. Everyone brings a new perspective, which I find refreshing.

Brands: We learned so much from these amazing brands: California Avocado Board, Whole Foods, Redwood Hill Farms, Sabra, Kerrygold, and KitchenAid, and a few more. Beautiful Maggy with one of the Harry & David gift baskets raffled off.

And each blogger received a wonderful “gift” bag when we checked in. (I spy Harry & David again!)

Community. Plenty of good food to choose from. Friendship and community build around good food. (Amanda and Maria.)

Fabulous-ness. I get teary just thinking about many of my blogging friends that have become so dear to my heart over the years. (These girls are like sisters – Jenna and Maria.)

Platform. Blogging is more than “us.” We need to learn, stretch, grow, and challenge ourselves. Here’s an example with Maggy’s post.

Justice. Not a dry eye in the place when we listened to Barrett and  we learned about this.

Future. New plans are made. “Let’s meet up here,” or “I can’t wait to see you at this event,” or “Come out to Oregon and visit us.” That kind of talk. (Sporting the stripes with Catherine from  Weelicious- love her!)

Relaxing. Enjoying each bite with conversation around the table, instead of running out the door. (Borrowed photo from my friend, Brooke from Food Woolfe.)

Moments. Sweet moments of reprieve in the company of people you love. (Who doesn’t love Bakerella?)

The layers of flavors and love: That is how when you give yourself to something, in the end, it blesses more than you’ll ever know.

We all could taste the time and effort the Potluck girls and their team put into this event.

If you’re a blogger, what is your favorite part of attending a conference? If you haven’t gone to one yet, what conference are you dying to attend?

Thanks again to Harry & David for sponsoring my trip to The Big Traveling Potluck!

Here’s som other fabulous recaps from #BTP1:

Rustic Garden Bistro
Savour Fare
Bake Your Day
Food Woolf
Foodie Crush
Two Peas and Their Pod
Picky Palate
Helen Jane Part 1
Helen Jane Part 2
Kevin and Amanda

We’re a Mexican-food family for sure. Anything with beans, rice, spice, tortillas … we love. And I’ve also found that for large group entertaining, hosting a Mexican themed party is always easy, especially if you are delegating dishes. It offers a wide variety of choices for your guests to bring, from entrees to chips and guacamole, to single condiment options such as olives, sour cream, onions, tomatoes, cheese, lettuce, peppers, cilantro. The list goes on and on if you’re hosting a taco bar!

I love hosting Mexican dinners because you can spread the food in a buffet-style – right on your kitchen counter!

But heating tortillas? It can be tricky, especially when you’re feeding a crowd.

How do you keep them soft and healthy, or do you like them fried and crisp? How do you serve them hot?

So many questions.

And so many options!

I’m always asked about the quickest way to heat a tortilla, since frying them is not always the healthiest approach to take, even though we love the flavor.

Our go-to preparation: Steam!

But when we want a real treat (the way I grew up eating them), we fry them. Delicious!

Here are more options to try …

How to Prepare Tortillas:

Steam (Cloth) Method: Moisten a cloth towel or paper towel, wrap the tortillas (12 at a time) in the cloth (or paper towel) and microwave for 1 minute. This method gives you very soft and moist tortillas.

Steam (Plate) Method: Place the tortillas on a plate. Flip another plate upside down on top of it. Microwave as you would normally. The tortillas steam with the moisture that’s already inside them and the plates contain that steam. Works every time!

Stove Top Method: Place tortillas directly on the stove burner for a few seconds until warm, then flip. This method works great if you’re heating up a few tortillas.

Frying Method: I wrote about how to cook (fry) soft tortillas, here. It’s one of my favorite childhood memories!

Cast Iron Skillet Method: In a dry, medium-high pan, place the tortillas. They will puff up, soften, and toast as you cook on both sides.

Flat Griddle Method: Follow the same method as you would for a cast iron skillet.

Oven Method: Wrap 6-8 tortillas in tin foil and place in pre-heated 350° oven for 15-20 minutes. If you need to heat multiple stacks, this method works great.

Gas Charring Method: Place the tortilla over the gas flames for a few seconds on each side. Flip by using tongs.

Happy Cinco de Mayo this weekend, Friends!

What’s your go-to method for heating tortillas for a larger group while entertaining?

We’ve had our first glimpse of warmer weather in Oregon, with a few weeks of amazing sunshine. We’ve already had a taste of dining alfresco, with our first barbecue of the season! Charcoal barbecuing, that is.

It takes effort to get the outdoor area ready for spring and summer entertaining. I usually take everything off of our patio, blow it or spray it down, and then clean and put everything back. This season we turned our furniture outward to enjoy the yard, pool, and garden area.

We still use charcoal for barbecuing, and my husband takes care of getting it ready for the upcoming barbecue season. We use the CharGriller 1224 Smokin’ Pro Charcoal Grill and Smoker (long name, I know).

By the way, why charcoal over “easy” grilling? We just love the flavor that charcoal gives the food, an extra punch of flavor, and there’s just something about the time involved in slower-barbecuing, that makes us really appreciate the meal.

And the guests appreciate the flavor, too.

My hubby is the barbecue-extraordinaire, not me. I know how to get the coals started in the chimneys, but after that, I let him take charge.

Grilled Onions.

And Mushrooms.

And the amazing salmon. Here’s the recipe for the marinade for the salmon.

Our first barbecue this year involved salmon, grilled onions, green beans, mushrooms and I threw some sweet potatoes in the oven. So fresh, and a perfect meal to serve for our first alfresco meal of the season!

And, did I mention – our sons were home for college? Perfect timing, boys!

Since we love charcoal, I’m going to share our tools and tips that make barbecuing a breeze.

10 Essential Tools and Tips for Successful Charcoal Barbecuing

1. Barbecue: research and buy a barbecue grill that fits your needs. There are many different styles, sizes, and extra features.

2. Charcoal: we stock up at Costco every year with several bags and store the briquettes in big tubs (sealed) out by the barbecue.

3. Chimneys: at least (2) chimneys for the coals. If you are barbecuing a lot of food, you’ll definitely want to use 2.

4. Grilling baskets: several sized grilling baskets. Perfect for veggies and potatoes.

5. Lighter: usually keep several by the barbecue, as we use for lighting candles, too.

6. Tongs: at least one large set of tongs is essential for flipping the meat and food items.

7. Large spatula: we keep at least one over-sized spatula handy for flipping large pieces of meat.

8. Reusable paper grocery bags: we keep these on hand for starting the coals.

9. Olive oil and old kitchen towel: these items are used to rub down the grill before starting the BBQ process.

10. Fresh herbs: we keep a cup or canning jar nearby with fresh sprigs of rosemary to either throw on the coals or garnish the meat/food with.

Here was my Instagram picture of our dinner that night! Tasty! (Are you following me on Instagram? SandyCoughlinRE is how you can find me!)

Alfresco dining with barbecued food is probably my favorite way to entertain!

You can really make it the perfect spot for relaxing with friends!

If you’re planning on entertaining, how’s your outdoor space looking? And your grilling space and essential tools to barbecue?

I also wanted to let you know I’m posting over at Answers.com now as their Entertaining Expert. Fun, huh? You may have seen the “Answers logo” on my sidebar. I have some great posts coming up, but for BBQ season, here’s one I wrote How to Plan a Successful Summer Barbecue. Head over and check it out if you have a minute … I appreciate your support!

Happy May Day, Friends!

I love gathering people around the table and feeding them.

Sometimes we gather casually in our back seating area under our covered patio, especially this time of year, for appetizers and wine. I love the conversation, the flavors and smells of the food, the stories being told.

Serving appetizers seems to happen in the course of “small talk.” Catching up, what’s new since we’ve last seen our guests, how are the kids, etc. We seem to jump from one conversation to another, as everyone is excited to see each other.

Then on to the dinner table and out come the bigger stories – sometimes reminiscing, or talking about future plans, goals, dreams, places we’ve been and where we want to go. I find now that our kids are getting older, we seem to talk a lot about them and where they are at in life.

The table is one piece of furniture that I’d be really sad without it. Because when else do you sit in a circle, rectangle, or square – looking across at each other for hours?

Sometimes I have time to make a pretty tabletop and sometimes not. It really depends on the flow of my day. Obviously, the more time I have, the more creative I can be.

Last week I had 2 things that were in ultra-bloom-mode in my yard. The mint is going crazy (watch out – it spreads like wildfire) and the tulips are popping up everywhere. Red, yellow, pink, fuscia, white … and a mix like these candy cane colored tulips. My favorite!

How to make a Tulip and Mint Tabletop

1. Round up a vessel, container, or low-line vase and fill with water.

2. Cut handfuls of fresh mint – the more you stuff in the container, the better.

3. Snip your favorite colored tulips, leaving about 3 inches of stem.

4. Place the tulips strategically in between the mint.

RE TIP: Remember if it’s a hot day, add a few ice cubes to your container to keep the water nice and cold.

Back to my guests and the table. I know that even without a pretty tabletop, the food will taste just as good, the conversation will still flow, and other areas of the yard bring a nice air of ambience to the party. So simple is good, and even candles work just fine when I don’t have flowers.

But if I have the chance to make something pretty, I usually make it a priority to grace my table or entertaining area with something beautiful from my yard.

For a spring tabletop where you live, what is your favorite flower or greenery to include?

I love bread and my family loves bread, so we are a bread-lovin’ family!

When it comes to a dinner party, the kind of bread I love to serve is crusty and hearty, and warm and crunchy when you take that first bite.

My heart is racing right now just thinking about it. Especially if there is real butter nearby.

I have a standard bread that I love to serve at most every dinner party if I’m in charge of the bread.

Everyone always asks … what kind of bread is this? Because it’s really that good.

Other fresh breads are just as delicious to buy at the market, too, but the process of freezing it first is PERFECT for last-minute company! Because you’ll always be prepared with it stored in the freezer, and pulled out last-minute for baking.

The bread I serve is a whole grain loaf from La Brea Bakery, which I buy at Costco, but I’ve also seen in local grocery stores, too.

Love this quote right on the package:

Upon your first bite, the crackle of the crust gives way to a caramelized layer of crunch that surrounds the loaf; a slight sweetness and developed tang, in one wonderful taste. – Nancy Silverton, Founder and Chief

Here’s my secret on how to bake and get that fresh taste–and crunchiness on the outside–that I learned from my friend, Jami. And remember you can follow this method with almost any kind of bread, as long as it’s frozen first.

How to bake and prepare La Brea Bakery’s Whole Grain Loaf

1. Buy the bread fresh and immediately freeze (in the same packaging it comes in).

2. Heat oven to 375.

3. Take the bread out of the freezer right before baking, and place in the oven for 23 minutes.

4. Remove from the oven; let sit for 3-5 minutes. Slice and serve.

Connecting through a home-cooked meal has always been one of my favorite ways of catching up with friends and getting to know someone new! And it always tastes better with bread and wine.

So try the bread; with butter, of course.

I just know that your guests will ask you about it …

Every single time.

Do you have any bread secrets to share, what’s easy and what kind you love to serve at a dinner party?

If you’re looking for a new spin on butter to serve with the bread, try my Meyer Lemon Honey Butter.

Hey friends! You might already know that I published 2 e-books a few years back (for girls). I was asked to join in on this amazing offer this week and I couldn’t say no. See below for this fantastic offer which includes my (2) e-books on Balcony Girls.

For 6 days only, more than 75 widely-known bloggers and authors in the homemaking sphere have joined together to offer 97 of their most popular eBooks and eCourses, valued at just over $600, for the incredibly low price of $29.97!

More than anything, our goal for this sale was for it to be, well… ultimate! We firmly believe that you will not find a more comprehensive collection of homemaking resources anywhere on the web, and particularly not in this price range. For this low price, you gain access to every single one of these resources, so that you can customize your own collection to contain exactly the ones you want and know you’ll use.

The Homemaking Bundle includes these topics:
simple and frugal living
mothering
organization
cleaning
recipes and kitchen helps
home education
spiritual growth for both moms and kids
home décor
pregnancy and baby care
health and fitness
work-from-home
financial tools

To sweeten the pot, we’ve also teamed up with 10 companies to bring you over $140 in bonus offers, giving you an affordable opportunity to get products you’ll use and love for only the cost of shipping, or in some cases, entirely for free!

What’s Included in the Sale?

When you purchase The Ultimate Homemaking eBook collection, you will get instant access to any of the 97 eBooks and eCourses listed below.

PLUS over $140 of FREE Bonuses

Each The Ultimate Homemaking eBook collection comes with more than $140 of FREE Bonuses from 10 companies that we know you’ll love. More on these bonuses below.

Please note: This collection is only available from 9 a.m. EST on April 29th to 11:59 p.m. EST on May 4th. There will be no late sales offered.

Here’s the list!

Home & Property {Cleaning, Organizing, Decor}

31 Days to Clean by Sarah Mae @ SarahMae.com ($4.99)

Getting it Together: Your Guide to Setting Up a Home Management System that Works by Kayse @ kayse pratt ($3.99)

Pulling Yourself Together: Implementing a Cleaning Routine that Sticks by Becky @ Clean Mama ($10.00)

Simple Living by Lorilee @ Loving Simple Living ($2.99)

NOT a DIY Diva by Melissa @ The Inspired Room ($3.99)

One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler by Tsh @ Simple Mom ($5.00)

28 Days to Hope for your Home by Dana @ A Slob Comes Clean ($5.00)

Organizing Life as Mom by Jessica @ Life as Mom ($9.00)

Clean Enough: Simple Solutions for the Overwhelmed by Jenni @ Live Called ($4.99)

10 Steps to Organized Paper by Lisa @ Lisa Woodruff.net($5.00)

Handmade Walls by Jamin and Ashley @ the handmade home ($9.95)

Easy Peasy Chores: An Easy-to-Use Chore System That Brings JOY Back Into Family Chores by Alina Joy @ The Good Old Days Farm ($17.99)

Educational Children’s Resources

Princess Training by Richele @ Under the Golden Apple Tree ($3.99)

The Armor of God by Richele @ Under the Golden Apple Tree ($2.50)

My Bedtime Learning Book by Richele @ Under the Golden Apple Tree ($1.00)

Think Outside the Classroom by Kelly @ Generation Cedar ($6.97)

Raising Rock Stars — Kindergarten Bundle by Carissa @ 1plus1plus1equals1 ($10.00)

The ABC’s For Godly Boys Curriculum by Lindsey @ Road to 31 ($8.00)

The ABC’s For Godly Girls Curriculum by Lindsey @ Road to 31 ($8.00)

K4 Curriculum by Erica @ Confessions of a Homeschooler ($15.00)

Write Through the Bible (print) by Trisha @ Intoxicated on Life ($5.00)

Write Through the Bible (cursive) by Trisha @ Intoxicated on Life ($5.00)

Balcony Girls (books 1 & 2) by Sandy @ Reluctant Entertainer ($19.90)

The Dig for Kids: Luke (Volumes 1 and 2) by Patrick, husband of Ruth @ The Better Mom ($5.98)

Music: An Essential Ingredient for Life by Ryan @ Resound School of Music ($6.99)

Budgeting {Finance & Time}

From Debtor to Better by Barry @ From Debtor to Better ($10.00)

Tell Your Time by Amy @ Blogging with Amy ($2.99)

The Homemakers Guide to Creating the Perfect Schedule by Amy @ Raising Arrows ($4.99)

Your Grocery Budget Toolbox by Anne @ Authentic Simplicity ($7.99)

Finding Financial Freedom by Kelly @ Generation Cedar ($5.97)

Become a Frugalista in 30 Days by Susan @ The Confident Mom ($3.99)

In the Kitchen {Recipes and Cooking}

Crock On by Stacy @ Stacy Makes Cents ($5.00)

Real Food, Real Easy by various bloggers @ The Humbled Homemaker ($9.95)

Wholesome Mixes by Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage ($4.00)

20-Minute Meals by Leigh Ann @ Intentional by Grace ($4.99)

Restocking the Pantry by Kresha @ Nourishing Joy ($9.99)

Money Saving Mom’s Guide to Freezer Cooking by Crystal @ Money Saving Mom ($3.99)

Simply Summer by Kate @ Modern Alternative Mama ($7.95)

Do the Funky Kitchen by Laura @ Heavenly Homemakers ($4.95)

Real Food Kids: In the Kitchen plus 1 month access to select Real Food Kids eCourse videos by Wardeh @ GNOWFGLINS and Jami @ Eat Nourishing ($20.00)

Seasonal Menu Plans on a Budget: A Month of Meals from My Humble Kitchen to Yours by Diana @ My Humble Kitchen ($4.99)

Just Making Ice Cream by Marillyn @ Just Making Noise ($12.00)

The Curative Kitchen by Susan @ Handy Pantry ($20.00)

Pregnancy & Baby Care

First Bites by Hilary @ Accidentally Green ($9.99)

Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert by Erin @ The Humbled Homemaker ($9.95)

Stress-Free Baby Shower by Sara @ Your Thriving Family ($4.00)

Unbound Birth by Jenny @ The Southern Institute ($2.99)

My Pregnancy Journey by Mindy @ Simply Designs ($9.99)

My Buttered Life Baby Edition by Renee @ Made On Hard Lotion ($5.00)

The Minimalist Mom’s Guide to Baby’s First Year by Rachel @ The Minimalist Mom ($5.00)

Redeeming Childbirth: Growth & Study Guide by Angie @ Redeeming Childbirth ($3.99)

Holidays & Special Events

Festive Traditions by Jill @ Modern Alternative Kitchen ($7.95)

Holiday Mixes: Gifts in a Jar by Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage ($4.00)

Flourishing Spring by Michele @ Frugal Granola ($5.95)

Family Camping Handbook by Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship ($6.95)

Truth in the Tinsel by Amanda @ Oh, Amanda! ($7.99)

Plan a Fabulous Party by Mary @ Giving Up on Perfect ($4.99)

iPhone Photography: The Visual Guide by Alli @ Alli Worthington($9.97)

Spiritual Growth

Pursuit of the Proverbs 31 by Amy @ Amy Bayliss ($3.99)

The Best of Visionary Womanhood by Natalie @ Visionary Womanhood ($5.00)

God’s Word in my Heart: A Scripture Memory Learning Guide with Verses {all 4 versions} by Jenn @ The Purposeful Mom ($3.99)

Kept: a 13-Week Inductive Study on 1 Peter by Lara and Katie @ Quench Bible ($4.99)

Love Like Him: an 8 week Inductive Bible study on 1 Corinthians 13 by Lara and Katie @ Quench Bible ($2.99)

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Rekindling Romance by Jason & Jami @ A Biblical Marriage ($4.99)

Good Wife’s Guide by Darlene @ Time-Warp Wife ($2.99)

31 Days to Build a Better Spouse by Ashley @ Ashley Pichea ($4.99)

31 Days to Great Sex by Sheila @ To Love, Honor and Vacuum ($4.99)

Entangled: Recognize Your Emotional Affair by Amy @ Amy J. Bennett ($4.99)

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The Heart of Simplicity by various authors @ The Heart of Simplicity ($9.99)

True Christian Motherhood by June @ A Wise Woman Builds Her Home ($7.00)

Hula Hoop Girl by September @ One September Day ($4.99)

When Motherhood Feels Too Hard by Kelly @ Generation Cedar ($4.97)

Mindset for Moms by Jamie @ Steady Days ($4.99)

From Cube to Farm by Heather @ From Cube to Farm ($2.99)

4 Moms of 35+ Kids Answer Your Parenting Questions by various authors @ 4 Moms, 35+ Kids Parenting E-book ($7.99)

That Works for Me! by Kristen @ We are THAT Family ($8.00)

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100-pound Loser by Jessica @ Muthering Heights ($4.99)

Honoring the Rhythm of Rest by Danielle @ Domestic Serenity ($2.99)

42 Days to Fit by Brandy @ The Marathon Mom, Emma @ Real Fit Moms and Stacy @ A Delightful Home ($4.99)

Healthy Homemaking by Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home ($12.95)

Personal ePlanner by Jennifer @ ListPlanIt ($5.00)

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Frumps to Pumps by Sarah Mae @ SaraMae.com ($4.99)

The Cottage Mama’s DIY Guide by Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage ($4.00)

Simple Scrubs to Make and Give by Stacy @ A Delightful Home ($3.99)

The No Brainer Wardrobe by Hayley @ The No Brainer Wardrobe ($7.99)

Embracing Beauty by Trina @ Trina Holden ($9.00)

Reuse, Refresh, Repurpose by Kristen @ The Frugal Girl ($3.99)

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Your Blogging Business: Tax, Talk and Tips by Nikki @ Christian Mommy Blogger ($4.99)

The Bootstrap VA by Lisa @ The Home Life {and Me} ($12.99)

How to Grow Your Blog and Manage Your Home by Jacinda @ Growing Home ($4.99)

How to Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too by Mandi @ Life Your Way ($12.00)

Simple Blogging: Less Computer Time, Better Blogging by Rachel @ Small Notebook ($8.00)

Ecourses

Learning in Love: The Preschool Years by Renee @ FIMBY ($7.99)

Homeschooling from the Heart by Renee @ FIMBY ($7.99)

Grocery University by Carrie @ Colorado Bargains ($24.95)

Vibrant Living Strategies for Moms by Lisa @ Well-Grounded Life ($59)

You Can Do This! The First Five Steps to a Real Food Kitchen by Laura @ Heavenly Homemakers ($5.00)

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The fine print:

Bonus Offers

• Each bonus offer can be redeemed once only per eBook Bundle purchase.
• For each bonus offer, transaction numbers or proof of purchase may be required at the time of redemption.
• All bonus offers are free gifts from the bonus sponsors, are their sole responsibility to provide, and are subject to availability.
• All bonus offers expire at midnight on May 19th, 2013 (2 weeks from the last day of this sale).

General Information:

• Use this link to purchase this bundle now.
• It is your responsibility to download and back-up your purchase within the 1-month download time-frame. With proof of purchase, we can renew download links up until August 1st, 2013. After this date we will no longer have access to the books and will not be able to provide any new links to download.
• Due to the nature of this sale, there will be no refunds available. However, we would invite you to read our Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more about the file types, the download process, how the bonus offers work, etc.

Please note: This collection is only available from 9 a.m. EST on April 29th to 11:59 p.m. EST on May 4th. There will be no late sales offered, so make sure that you get your bundle right away!

Particularly for those wanting to read these ebooks on their mobile devices (iPhones or iPads, Android, Kindle, etc.) you will want to learn more about the file types, how to download them correctly, and how to transfer them to your device.

This post includes affiliate links, and I make a portion of the sale of each ebook bundle. Thanks for your support of this site!

Have you seen Harry & David’s new gifts for Mother’s Day?

Since Mother’s Day is right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about how you’ll be celebrating your Mom or that special person in your life!

There are so many gifts I’d love to receive myself, but this time I thought of my Dad’s wife Ginny with the Mini Rose Plant Gift.

What to win:
Today I’m giving away the same gift, the Mini Rose Plant, for ONE lucky winner to send to their mom or special person.

This gift comes with three lovely four-inch potted mini roses in a unique crate made of antique replica yardsticks. So pretty!  It’s a perfect gift for a mom with a green thumb, because the roses can be planted right into her garden!

Comment to win:

What type of gift do you usually send for Mother’s Day?

More ways to win::

Tweet or share this link on your social media, and come back and tell me for EXTRA ENTRIES (your blog, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, etc.).

This giveaway is open to US residents 18 years and older. Giveaway will end on Wednesday, May 1st at 10:00 pm PST. One winner will be chosen and announced on RE Facebook page.

I’ve partnered with Harry & David in exchange for this product today. I was not compensated for writing this post, and as always; all opinions are my own.

I love the combination of carrots and orange. So much that last winter I served it to my friends.

The recipe today, with carrots and oranges, is in my book, but I want to remind you how yummy it really is.

Feeding people around my table is about connecting. It’s not about showing off my culinary skills or my dinner party menu. Feeding people to me is about providing nourishment; loving people through good flavors and conversation.

Enter Carrot Orange Soup. Delicious in flavor and vibrant in color!

The soup is very reasonable in price to make, it’s colorful, flavorful … and different.

You can serve it hot or cold, but we love it hot.

We stack the dishes right next to the pot – nice and easy for serving.

My husband usually helps me serve to our guests. He’s the best host!

You can add an edible flower.

Or a leaf of lovage.

Cilantro would be good.

Even a tiny bit of cream and green onions.

TIP: You can make this soup up a day or two in advance, because the longer it sits, the flavor steeps and … well, I won’t say any more. You just need to try it!

What happens around the table–especially with a dinner party where you’ve hand-picked your guests–has a rhythm of its own, a sense of love and acceptance that no one can explain unless you are sitting there at the table yourself.

What’s your favorite combination to blend with carrots in a soup recipe?