My Mama’s Chicken Salad with Grapes & Pecans

Picnic table set with vintage dishes, cloth napkins, and silver. Plates filled with chicken salad and fruit.

A favorite summer dish perfect for picnics and dining al fresco — chicken salad with grapes and pecans! We all have a favorite dish from our mama’s kitchen….you know that dish that no one can make better than her! It’s one you get a craving for and can never make as tasty as she does.…

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A Romantic Picnic on the Pond

Picnic blanket and table set up for some romantic al fresco dining in the mountains

It’s a fine summer day in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and I’m in the mood for a picnic — a picnic on the pond! Let’s escape the heat and monotonous chores piling up at home and head to the farm. Grab your picnic basket, some yummy fare, and a bottle or two of wine…OK make…

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How to Curate a Plate Wall Display

Top down perspective of varied vintage plates laid out on rug with hammer, nails, and measuring tape. Great way to curate a plate wall display.

Tips and ideas for mixing and matching vintage plates for a chic plate wall display! Plates, plates, plates EVERYWHERE! Each one of these round beauties is a little work of art in my opinion, and I love to hang them on my walls to enjoy. Seriously, I don’t think there is one room in my…

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My Favorite Thrift Stores in East Tennessee

Ladies of Charity Thrift in Knoxville - One of my favorite thrift stores in East Tennessee

Katherine reveals her 5 favorite thrift stores in East Tennessee plus 7 thrifting tips to find quality antiques and vintage. There is nothing like the thrill of the hunt… The excitement of finding that long sought treasure for an absolute bargain! If you have the thriftin’ and pickin’ bug, you know exactly what I’m talking…

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Sassy Pink Sandals for Casual or Dressy Looks with Sarah Flint

Katherine of Pender & Peony sitting on brick wall in the Nadia pink sandal from Sarah Flint

Put a little sass in your step with hot pink sandals perfect for casual or dressy looks from female shoe designer Sarah Flint. The hunt for the perfect heeled sandals for summer is over! I think I speak for every woman when I say finding the perfect pair of heeled sandals is tricky. They are…

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An Introvert’s Formula for a Productive 9 to 5 at Home

Home desk with fresh flowers, antique ceramics, inspirational boards for a successful work space to have a productive 9 to 5 at home from an introverted business owner and blogger

Working from home these days? Here are my 10 strategies to stay motivated and have a productive 9 to 5 at home. I can hardly believe it has been nearly a year and a half blogging and operating my online antique shop full time! It has been a whirlwind at times and a slow crawl…

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Colorful Summer Decorating Ideas – Home Tour

Summer decorating ideas: new floral art in my entry by Nancy Thompson Mills.

4 summer decorating ideas to refresh and brighten your home — part of It’s a Colorful Life Home Tour, Summer Snap Shots. Sunny weather, Family time, Barbeques on the patio, Cheerful summer style… That’s what summers at home are made of — everyday pleasures! This week, I am excited to participate in the It’s a…

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Mojitos Anyone? Put the Lime in the Coconut…

sun shines through bottle of Rum Haven set up for coconut mojito bar

Let’s stir up the most refreshing summer cocktail for these hot sultry afternoons…coconut mojitos! 🎶 You put the lime in the coconut, you drink ’em bot’up Put the lime in the coconut, you drink ’em bot’ up Put the lime in the coconut, you drink ’em bot’ up… There is nothing more refreshing for sultry…

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Elevated Essentials: Grandmillennial Mantel Decor

Natural elements with a magnolia wreath and fresh florals play a major role on this mantel

2 ways to style a grandmillennial mantel with tips and advice to curate and arrange a charming display! This is Part II of my Elevated Essentials series, and in this post we will be looking at how to curate and style a grandmillennial mantel. This look is more formal, more feminine, and more elegant. If…

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Elevated Essentials: Preppy Traditional Mantel

Another important elevated essential of this preppy traditional mantel is natural elements done here with boxwood topiaries and a fern.

2 ways to style a preppy traditional mantel with advice and tips to curate and arrange a charming display! A couple of months ago over on Instagram, I asked you lovely peonies what areas you needed help decorating. MANTELS were the answer! This is absolutely one of my favorite spaces in a room to decorate. Fireplaces and…

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