Living
Creating a Closet Organization System Out of Chaos
I have a confession to make: my entryway closets look like this! Golly that is terrible! Somehow seeing the photos actually makes it worse. There is absolutely no organization going on here just a jumble of cleaning supplies, coats, shoes, lunch boxes, and pet paraphernalia. Some things are still in moving boxes for heaven’s sake,…
Read MoreDear 2017…
It’s that time of year – time for reflection and setting goals! Do New Year’s resolutions ever really stick? What’s that they say about the best laid plans? But seriously, I do think it is important to take stock of where you’ve been, what you’ve accomplished, and where you want to go as we…
Read More5 Holiday Storage Hacks
Try these 5 holiday storage hacks to organize your Christmas decor We leave our Christmas decor up until after New Year’s Day. I don’t decorate until after Thanksgiving, and I’m just never ready to take it down right away. I love the festive feeling it gives our home too much! The week and weekend after…
Read MoreHunting the Perfect Christmas Tree
A beautifully lit Christmas tree with ornaments scattered amongst the branches is pure Christmas magic. Decorating the tree is one of my favorite parts of the holidays. I love how a Christmas tree transforms the room and the way it ignites memories of Christmases long past. I grew up on a Christmas tree farm. You…
Read MoreWhen a Southerner Gives Directions
Ever been on one of those back country roads in the South rambling through cornfields and pecan groves, passing by roadside stands, and circuitously winding your way through unfamiliar territory? On these roads, signs seem few and far between. Cell phone service is iffy, and your GPS hasn’t a clue. It keeps telling you turn…
Read MoreA Healthy Eating Philosophy via Michael Pollan
Don’t let dieting advice and convoluted nutritional science keep you from creating a simple, healthy eating philosophy. Healthy eating – it is an American obsession. We pursue complicated diets, telling us to eat this not that. We pour over food labels and nutrition guides. We rely on scientific experts to tell us what is healthy…
Read More7 Tips to an Organized Pantry + My Southern Pantry Essentials
Eat more healthy, home cooked meals with a well-stocked and organized pantry. Healthy eating is an important component to embrace gracious living. If we eat a healthy, vegetable rich diet, we feel better, we have more energy, and we see the doctor less – we all know there are countless benefits. Plus, when we feel…
Read MoreAn Afternoon Tour at Blount Mansion
As a newcomer to Knoxville and a public historian, I’ve made it my goal to visit all of the 7 historic homes of Knoxville. I like to start learning about a new city by delving into its past! So far I’ve spent a festive evening at the Mabry-Hazen House and a lovely afternoon tour at…
Read MoreDo You Know these Southernisms?
I just love a good Southern sayin’! There is no denying that we know how to turn a phrase. Even though I was born and raised in the South, there are still Southernisms that catch me by surprise every now and again. Sometimes our colloquialisms are down right poetic. Every so often they are next…
Read MoreSummer Reading: The Girl from the Savoy
This book had all of the right elements: Jazz Age London, the aftermath of World War I, romance, and an aspiring actress with a humble and sweet personality. It had the potential to hit every one of my buttons. But in the end, I am seriously ambivalent about it. The Girl from the Savoy by…
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