Friends, just in time for spring and summer, enjoy this elegant Pesto Asparagus Caprese Salad Recipe as a meal itself, or a side salad for any meal.  It’s made with perfectly-cooked asparagus, red onions, tomatoes mozzarella cheese and the flavors of basil, of course. And if you want to take “caprese” up a notch for an appetizer this spring or summer? Try my Salami Caprese Charcuterie Board!

Pesto Asparagus Caprese Salad Recipe

April calls for fresh produce and pesto flavors so how about my 25-minute Asparagus Caprese Salad for Easter this year?

Don’t forget the basil leaves and fresh ground pepper! Watch the VIDEO below to see how easy it is to make!

You may also want to try my Shaved Asparagus Fennel Salad (delicious with anything grilled). (more…)

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This outdoor sectional sofa, a Sunset Magazine Inspired DIY Outdoor Sectional is made of cedar boards, with comfortable thick cushions. Also, if you have a skinny deck, you can make these DIY Skinny Deck Gardening Beds! This is reposted from May 2017.

Sunset Magazine Inspired DIY Outdoor Sectional

This sectional sofa offfers warmth and texture for an outdoor space, if you’re looking for an L shaped couch. Make it yourself for about $350 in two pieces. Grab the links to the cushions below! Affordable and excellent quality!

Inspired DIY Outdoor Sectional

Friends! My husband is guest-posting today! I was so impressed when he took my vision of what I wanted in an outdoor area here in central Oregon, did some research, and came up with a Sunset Magazine Inspired sectional just for me!
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What happens in a Cozy Outdoor Living Space? This place is where we sit and get to know new people, and catch up with old friends.

Or, new friends. (And that’s Alder the Whoodle, if you’re wanting to know who the cute dog is!)

“Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat”. – Laura Ingalls

Cozy Outdoor Living Space

Does this space always look this perfect? Well … no. We tidied it up a bit to take these photos (of course).

I love fall for its beauty and colors, but then again, it’s imperfections. (more…)

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Friends, do you live in your dream home? As much as I love our little mountain home, it’s not my dream home by any means. But guess what? It has everything I need, and I’m truly grateful for it.

Pesto Socca Pizza

My kitchen gets used a lot. A LOT. And I love the openness and counter space. Recently my daughter and I whipped up a new recipe: Parsley Infused Pesto Socca Pizza.

What is socca pizza?

Socca pizza—farinata or socca bread–is a flatbread or gluten-free chickpea crust pizza. (more…)

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Friends, our recent DIY bathroom remodel in our mountain home went smoothly and without a glitch. You may remember our Mountain Home Renovation Final Reveal did not include any bathroom posts!

Just in time for summer entertaining, and all of the hosting that we do, our DIY Mountain Home Bathroom Remodel is finished in perfect timing. It’s nice to have a “guest bathroom” ready for company!

We still have a few projects to finish in our new home in central Oregon that we bought 2 years ago.

Replacing the high tank toilet

Removing the high tank chain toilet and putting in a new sink, we painted and did a few other fun touch-ups to make our guest bathroom ready for company! (more…)

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Friends, we’re preparing for summer with Ryobi Outdoor Products, and it’s never been easier!

Happy first day of Summer!

The warm weather has hit, the days are longer, and we’re gearing up for summer plans, hosting and lots of outdoor activities.

Let’s start with a great appetizer or snack board! (more…)

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Good morning, friends! Welcome to my kitchen! Today I’m sharing how to make salmon cakes, a delicious salmon patties recipe made with canned salmon. Served with a side of Avocado Garlic Aioli, and you’ll enjoy this for any meal!

How to Make Salmon Cakes Recipe

If you remember our home when we bought it 2 years ago, we were surrounded by solid wood inside. Now an all-white kitchen, this indeed is my happy place! It’s functional, bright, and cheery! I do love my friend Melissa’s white kitchen, too. (more…)

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Friends, I’m a big believer that your home says a lot about who you are. For sure, it’s a reflection of your style, no matter what that style is.

It’s even better when it smells good, with a yummy dessert baking in the oven! I think you’ll love this Poppy Seed Cake (or this delicious Strawberry Cream Shortbread Dessert) today! It has a fresh taste of orange, perfect for spring or summer!

Poppy Seed Cake

Our little mountain home is pretty simple. (more…)

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One of my favorite appetizers to bring to a party is a stuffed-brie. It’s so delicious, every bite is devoured! And brie mixed with orange and cranberries? The BEST flavors!

And friends, have you bought my new cookbook? Buy Big Boards for Families today! It’s “editor’s pick” on Amazon this month!

Cranberry Orange Relish Brie Cheese Appetizer

But I don’t just save it for a party. Our family enjoys it, too, especially this time of year with Orange Cranberry Relish (or sauce), and these Brie-Stuffed Turkey Cranberry Burgers!

Bring it to a party–it will be gone in no time! Best potluck dish appetizer!

To get a quick fire going, after returning from a cold long walk with the family, we started our fire with Pine Mountain ExtremeStart Firestarter. (more…)

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It’s been one year since we finished our white kitchen in our mountain home, our fixer upper! This is my first time to ever have a white kitchen, so the jury was out … would I like it or not?

Honestly, I love the look, but I hate the upkeep! White kitchen cupboards can get messy!

But I don’t hate it enough to not do it again. I truly do love my white kitchen.

Love and hate. (more…)

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