January Organization

My favorite post of the whole darn year.

January to the rest of the world is long and boring. To me, it means cleaning and organizing and getting everything back on track and ready for our year. It's so very good for my soul... and the function of my family for the coming year. In a couple of very short months we will welcome our sweet baby boy to the family. That has me on a whole other level of preparing and organizing. "Nesting" as the pregnant women call it is a tad different when using a surrogate, but I have no doubt that it's starting to kick in on this 'not so pregnant - but also 28 week pregnant mamma.'

Trying to figure out new things that make my families day to day life run more smooth and enjoyable gives me great satisfaction. I want to enjoy life, I don't want to always be stuck inside doing "chores" once the nice weather hits. Next year I will choose playing tractors outside over laundry any ol day.... BUT with that being said, laundry still has to get done, I still have to cook dinner, the house has to be clean. Keeping the rest of your home function able and organized helps those day to day things run more swiftly and smoothly.

This is my January Organization Schedule.

Spring House Cleaning Schedule:

·         January 1-7 (Bathrooms (downstairs only) and Living Rooms (upstairs and down)

·         January 8-14 (Bedrooms and Closets)

·         January 15-21 (Kitchen and Kitchen Pantry)

·         January 22-28 (Laundry and Laundry Pantry/Closet)

·         January 29-Feb 4 (Augusts Bedroom and Bathroom)

I take an area of my home and work on it all week. That way I don't feel like I'm cleaning all.month.long. And I can still come home from work and enjoy cooking dinner and chatting with my husband, then get in and get a little bit done each night. And that keeps me from getting burnt out the second week when I still have a lot of house to do.

Follow me on Instagram for weekly (and possibly nightly) updates on how everything is going.

 Have a very safe and happy New Year!

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Farmhouse Holiday Cheese Board

 

Cheese Boards! My go-to for Holiday parties. They're delicious, easy, a tad fancy and festive with fresh greens or berries. If you follow me on Instagram then you saw my stories of making this exact cheese board.

 

 

 

 The great thing about a cheese board is that there are no rules. You can add anything you want, and more importantly anything you have in your fridge/pantry. Sometimes I add fruit (fresh and dried).

 

First things first - you need a great wooden board. My sister-in-law got me mine several years ago for a wedding present. Add a piece of fresh greenery.

 

 

 

Cheese comes next. I like several different kinds, mix it up a bit. Something sweet, something savory, maybe something a little spicy.  Lately my go to's are (from left to right) crème brie, blue, blueberry, Dill Havarti and lastly Morel and Leek.

 

 



 

 Look at how pretty....

 

 

Add a couple of different kinds of crackers and salamis..... Be messy, make it look rustic, you don't want everything lined up perfectly.

 



 

 

 

And another picture because its just so darn pretty.... ;)

 

 

Next up I added jalapeno stuffed olives for some heat, sliced herb roasted baguette, and breadsticks for some dimension. 

 

 

 Sprinkle shelled pistachios for a little more of a "messy" look and add fresh herbs. For this one I did Bay leaves, but for Christmastime Rosemary is perfect too.

Wintertime pie crust cutouts to make it a little festive.

 

That's it..... You can whip this up in about 15 minutes. Depending on my crowd and if I am able to get "fancy cheeses" I have even sliced up sharp cheddar and added to the board too. Take a look at my cheese boards throughout the years. I have something different in each one.

Have a blessed and joyous Holiday Season.... I have some fun posts planned for the blog, now here's to actually doing it. Things have been pretty busy around here getting ready for our sweet boy.

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Aunt Lora's Dutch Apple Pie

I spent two weekends ago at my aunts farm in Warsaw..... I live in the country, but there is nothing as peaceful as being deep in the woods surrounded by...nothing. We laughed, we rode four wheelers, we had warm campfires and cold beer. It really was exactly what I needed during this busy time of the year.

Saturday afternoon we baked a dutch apple pie and immediately I knew I wanted to share this recipe with you. Apple Pie and Fall on the farm go hand in hand.



All ready to go..... Look at how pretty those apples are.








Combine pie filling in a bowl













Stir all together.












Add to a pie crust (there is more to be desired with the look of my crust- but it sure was tasty).













Ready to pop in the oven.












Delicious.... Perfect with a fall mulled cider or sangria.

Recipe:

Filling
Preheat oven to 350° and bake for 1 hour (I baked mine for one hour and ten minutes)
peel and slice 6-8 apples (6 cups)
3/4 - 1 cup of sugar
1 tsp. of cinnamon
2 tablespoons of flour
a dash of nutmeg (just a dash, a little bit goes a long ways)


Crumb Topping
1 stick of butter
1 cup of flour
1 cup of sugar

Take a look at some of my favorite photos from that weekend.

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Fall Farmhouse Table Setting

I typically do things very simple in my home. To me, the motto of less is more has always applied to my decorating. I tend to get a little carried away at Christmastime, but still overall things are very minimal (minus my 7 trees) and it still looks like "my house" as opposed to some department store during the Holidays.



My fall décor, which you will see the first of next week is no different. A few simple bright orange pumpkins, some bunches of wheat, and a few fun bats on the fireplace. While my table settings in the summertime is still also very casual; oftentimes a big ol watermelon ripening in the sun is the focal point of the table. If the table is set it's just my casual white dinnerware and sometimes an indoor fern with small American flags stuck in the sides.

For me, this table is very stuffed and full. It feels like Thanksgiving - with the different elements of some copper mugs for some fall cider, or tall wine glasses for a perfect burgundy with dinner, and a big turkey platter filled with apples and pumpkins and gourds.

 

I need to start investing in good tablecloths for the seasons. For this setting I prefer the "rustic feel" that this bare table brings. It makes it a little less formal and a little more casual. Good food, friends and conversation will be gathered around this table.

 

 

I'm working on collecting some fall dinnerware. I have about two settings of this beautiful Spode Woodland Dinnerware. I have the Spode Christmas dishes passed down from my mom, so I am working on the fall set myself, isn't it beautiful.

This year I am using my Pottery Barn Emma Collection everyday dishes accompanied with these adorable Pottery Barn watercolor pumpkin appetizer plate. It's a whimsical and casual look as opposed to the more formal look once I collect the rest of my Spode Woodland Collection.... in probably ten more years. ;)

 

I am ready for cooler temps and crunchy leaves.... I hope this table setting gives you some inspiration  - I'll be back next week with indoor and outdoor fall décor of our farmhouse. 

 

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Bridal Shower Brunch

Brunches are a favorite of mine to host. The food is fun, easy, and even a donut tower can be deemed "fancy". I hosted a Bridal Shower Brunch a few weeks ago, and although I didn't get a lot of photos when hosting and still trying to set up, I did manage to snap a couple.

Terrible lighting I know - but look at how utterly adorable everything looks. Simple, fresh, a tad whimsical... I love a good Bridal Shower Brunch.





Instead of "cake" we had a muffin tower and stacked donuts. It was so cheerful - I loved this party so much.






It was rainy and so gloomy outside - at this point I would have taken better photos with an IPhone... Who needs to spend thousands of dollars on cameras and lenses anyways (insert eye roll emoji).



Mini Champagne Bottles with custom labels and a wide, pink double satin ribbon tied into a bow as the party favors.

And check out those adorable cookies.... I order all of my sugar cookies through an Instagram follower turned friend - you have to check out her stuff. It's the best. Kelscookiejar





I did a big centerpiece on my island of hydrangea and glads.... add eucalyptus to any arrangement I have learned and it automatically feels very casual and more simple.

A Bridal Shower Brunch isn't complete without a mimosa bar.

 

I hope this gives you some creative ideas for upcoming bridal and baby showers you may be having. I like to keep things as simple as possible - that way you get to enjoy your guests and the party too. Buy 1/2 of your menu and make 1/2 of your menu seems to be a pretty good trick I have figured out.

Summer is quickly fading and fall is right around the corner. I am gathering recipes for Harvest Meals once my farmer is in the field again. I sure love this time of year.

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