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Well, our weekly adventure challenge continues! (If you haven’t seen the challenge post yet, you can see it here.) Last week I shared our pirate nature scavenger hunt, and it was geared more specifically for small children. This time for our second adventure we did an activity which isn’t targeted at any specific age, and can be enjoyed by pretty much anyone. (Although, confession – I cheated a little on the “weekly” this time. I’ve been posting the week after the adventure, but we didn’t go on an adventure last week due to sickness, we are doing two this week … Read more

(Sorry for my lack of blog-posts last week … I was in Florida! If I was more organized and had planned ahead more I would have had blog posts pre-written and scheduled to post while I was away. But .. well, that didn’t happen. But the week in FL was awesome – it was a road trip with my extended family, I got see my siblings at college, attend a week of Bible lectures, and see my brother in the Spring musical. WooT!) And now I’ve returned from the 80+ degree weather back to the chilly snowy days of February. … Read more

Or in this case, pumpkin roll? It’s the end of FlourishCafe’s birthday week, but, of course, the proper way to celebrate the completion of year is always with a delicious dessert!  Ah, traditions. 🙂 I had never made a pumpkin roll until my husband requested one for his birthday – and I was surprised as how easy it actually was! Its a great autumn or winter dessert, and looks pretty to boot.  I’m including the recipe I used at the end of this post. Thanks for celebrating FlourishCafe’s birthday with me this week – and don’t forget to enter my … Read more

My “The Cook Gets to Lick the Spoon” Illustration I knew someone once who said they liked their food bland. Um … that’s definitely NOT how I like my food. I like colorful spices, bold flavors, and bright flavors. I’m sure that each cook has their own set of flavors and spices that they consider staples – but one that I consider a staple that seems to be under appreciated in general: the lime. Candied Lime Peel by HarmlessColor Flavors that can be used in both sweet a savory cooking are some of my favorites. Cinnamon, mango, allspice … and … Read more

Are you a local explorer? You’d love it!! Few things inspire me creatively more than this. Not sure? Ok, I’ll give you some reasons – and then some helpful tips and tricks. 🙂 All of the photos in this post are from my local explorations here in Knoxville! I’ve lived in several awesome places in the past — places that other people take trips to go visit. (Prague/Czech Republic, Gettysburg/PA, Tampa/FL..) But one thing that completely took me aback was how people who had lived there their whole lives had never taken the opportunity to go see the sights! I … Read more

Hi all! Today I’m excited to share a guest post from my good friend, Debbie Sutherland. My husband and I have known her and her family for quite some time, and always enjoy getting to see their lovely family when we visit New England. Debbie runs a blog on fun and frugal living, and today’s post that she is sharing with us is all about frugal nature-themed date ideas. Love it. I’m married to my guy, but I still want to date him! Thanks for the ideas, Debbie! -April Going out on a date with a loved one does not … Read more

It’s week 3 of the hack challenge! And I must admit, it was a close call this week to get a project done. But, ta da, here it is! I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to get any project finished for this week’s post done while we are out of town … I had a back up plan in mind, but I’m glad I didn’t have to use it because I wasn’t terribly thrilled about. Fortunately, my sister in law up here in New England was having a craft night at her house this week, and I realized … Read more

The interesting thing about blogging is that as a blogger, people only know you as much as you reveal. The temptation, then, is to only reveal all the things about yourself that are flattering.  You know, posting pictures of the house right before guests came over and everything is looking pristine … not pictures of the house on a regular weekday.  Not that there is anything wrong with sharing those high, shining and lovely moments (and yes, a clean house would be a shining moment around here!), in fact, it can help and inspire others.  But none of us have … Read more

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” I almost wish C. S. Lewis hadn’t said this, because its so true of me that I probably would have said it myself, and then everyone would be quoting me instead of him. Well … ok, maybe not, but I do love this quote. 🙂 (In fact, I loved it so much, I embroidered it on this book tote I made! I call it a “quote tote” and I stitched my paper beads on it – WooT! One of these days I … Read more

I love to cook and experiment with new flavors in the kitchen- particularly when I get to try my hand at new flavors from another country. However, the flair of their local fare often comes from ingredients that are easier to obtain there than here. I’m hesitant to shell out a lot of money for some unusual foreign ingredient if I don’t know how to use it very well or even if I will like it! Such was the case, as some of you may know, when I tried to make Hot and Sour Soup. If not, let’s just say … Read more