We live in a really awesome place! The only bad thing about that can be the crowds. I don't blame anyone for wanting to come here; it is a little slice of heaven. I am not a huge fan of crowds and my husband is definitely not a fan so we tend to not go out too much in the summer when places are really crowded. Now that summer crowds are dwindling, it's a lot easier to go places (and get last minute reservations). The humidity has been down and the temperatures are getting more pleasant. So, my hubs and I decided to act like teenagers again and have a date night. We took the doors off the Bronco and turned up the music for a fun drive around our beach community. We went to dinner at Bahia Beach House & Surf Bar. I had not been since last spring and it was just as great as I remembered it. We sat on the porch and enjoyed the ocean breezes as we overlooked "The Circle" in Atlantic Beach. I started out with a delicious cocktail made from Cachaca! It's a liquor made from sugarcane juice. Needless to say it was delicious! We shared the Calamari appetizer and then enjoyed Panko encrusted flounder and spicy shrimp tacos. Everything was fabulous and portions were the perfect size. If you are in the area, check this place out for lunch or dinner!

The outdoor lights on our home have been looking a little long in the tooth for awhile. They are original to the 2006 build. An evening thunderstorm in early August decided to rip two of them off the wall so we decided it was time to replace them! Of course, the ones I wanted were currently out of stock so I had to wait a bit to get them. They have arrived and my awesome husband has hung all 7 wall lanterns and the new front porch pendant and I am so happy with them! The copper finish and traditional style is the perfect design for our low country home. Check out the before and after! I have linked the lantern HERE Here are some similar options: Charlton Home Wall Lantern Dillion Wall Lantern Laurel Foundry Wall Lantern and the pendant HERE Here are some similar options: Laurel Foundry Pendant Dillion Pendant Charlton Home Pendant This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Nothing quite says fall like pumpkins! Well, and the smell of muffins cooking in the oven! These muffins are the perfect blend of fall spices and just enough sweet!

A new addition to your slow cooker rotation!

Fall in North Carolina is usually clear, warm days with crisp, chilly nights! I love the weather and I love all the fall smells! Well, and I am one of those pumpkin spice people too. While I am sad to see summer end, I am excited to bring on fall! So, I have rounded up my favorite fall picks! Favorite Candle and Hand Soap: Pumpkin Chai from Nest Fragrances Favorite Dish Soap: Pumpkin Spice Dish Soap by Williams Sonoma Favorite Faux Pumpkins: Pumpkin Collection by Grandin Road Favorite Bakeware: Fall Baking Collection from Williams Sonoma Favorite Serving Pieces: Pumpkin Stoneware from Pottery Barn Favorite Doormat: Harvest Leaves Doormat from Ruggable Favorite Wreaths and Swags: Fall Decor Collection from Grandin Road Favorite Fall Coffee Cups Favorite Food Packaging Favorite New Sweater: Cashmere from Vineyard Vines Favorite New Booties: The Marisol from Donald Pliner I am definitely ready to get in the kitchen and do some baking! Stay tuned for new recipes coming soon! This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

As school began, I quickly realized that our side entry was in desperate need of a refresh. The drab brown walls were not a top priority to change when we moved in but they were now making the space not very welcoming. Not to mention, the small space had become a drop zone for everything baseball and somewhere along the way it became the dog feeding station (I honestly don't recall the day the bins moved in there but it happened nonetheless). The dog food bins and bowls were moved back to their rightful space, mail was purged, baseball gear was organized, and shoes went to live in the closet of their respective owner. The entry is right off the kitchen and I wanted to tie the two together. Our kitchen island is painted SW Liquid Blue so I decided to go with that color but at only 50% concentration. I'm glad I toned down the concentration, it resulted in just the right color on the walls! A blue upholstered bench and a lamp that we had in storage were perfect for the space without having to purchase anything! Win Win! I did opt to purchase a rectangular basket for the baseball gear and it has proven to be a better shape to corral all the daily gear. The rug was in the space prior, but I gave it a trip through the washing machine so it felt new! (Yes, the rug is machine washable. The best for an entry!) I finished it off with a bright throw pillow that I made. I know I will change that out throughout the year. Making throw pillows is my favorite thing to sew. The linen closet is full of covers to constantly change that out. If you like to sew or are just looking for throw pillows, be sure to check out Spoonflower! It is my go to place for great fabric prints! I've rounded up products to get this look in your refresh HERE! This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

This is a great addition to your slow cooker rotation! Serve with cheese quesadillas or a salad and dinner is done!

Back to school means lunch box packing! Lunch boxes mean lots of sandwiches around here! Deli meat is convenient but it is so expensive! I compared prices this week and a pound of deli meat turkey was $13.99 per pound! So, I am opting for a turkey breast that I bake and slice up. It was only $10.99 for 3 pounds! That's a lot of savings over the course of the school year! Watch my short video!

This week was back to school for us which means I am packing a lunch box in the mornings again! Now that my son is in 10th grade, he no longer wants PB&J cut into the shape of a dinosaur but he does let me get a little more adventurous with sandwiches such as pork sliders, tenderloin sandwiches, and chicken wraps. Plus, he is good with some baked goods such as chocolate chip cookies or pound cake. This was my son's first day lunch box. Beef tenderloin sliders, cheez-its, honey crisp apples, a mini Twix (I haven't been baking this week), and his current fave Arnold Palmer. Boys are rough on their lunch box regardless of age and I have tried a lot of lunch boxes and containers. Here are some of my favorites from over the years and now: Lunch boxes: Yeti Daytrip Lunch Box LL Bean Flip Top Lunch Box Pottery Barn Mackenzie Lunch Box Containers: Pottery Barn Stainless Steel Containers and Bento Boxes Bent-go Classic Bento Box Easy Lunchbox (my fave for charcuterie on the go) Packing lunch boxes is one of my favorite mom jobs! Having everything organized makes it quick and simple and meal planning helps have creative ideas for each day. I hope all your kiddos have a wonderful school year and full tummies for attentive learning! This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

You know what doesn't give you a vacation? Laundry! When I was creating the laundry room for the cottage, I knew it needed to serve multiple purposes. So, we made it spacious with lots of storage! It not only has the washer and dryer, but storage for our boat day things like bags and towels, over flow supply storage (the closest grocery store is over 30 minutes away), vacuum, and of course a dog feeding zone. The room doesn't get a lot of natural light so I painted the cabinetry a happy pale aqua blue (it's SW Cay) and the walls are covered in a fun Schumacher paper that mimics the look of sea glass. The countertops are a white quartz and a single bowl farmhouse sink is perfect for filling water bowls and cutting flowers. The only negative of the space is that it has made me want a bigger laundry room at home with more storage! LOL!

Summer peach season has arrived! This peach crisp is simple and so delicious! Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Shrimp scampi is typically served over pasta but I wanted to change it up a little. This risotto is creamy with just the right amount of lemon. It is a wonderful dish to make while sipping on a glass of wine (you need wine for the recipe so the bottle is already open). Fresh shrimp are ideal to use!

A BLT is a summer time staple. So is a Caprese salad. Put the two together and you have deliciousness! I like to start with an artisan bread like sourdough. You can toast it if you like but prefer mine not toasted. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on the bread then layer romaine lettuce, bacon, fresh tomato, and block mozzarella. Top it with fresh basil and balsamic drizzle. You can add another slice of bread on top but it becomes too tall to eat (at least for me). So, I like the open faced style.

When you need an appetizer to WOW guests and make them feel like they are at a country club or wedding reception, this simple recipe is it! Packed full of great flavor and an easy finger food, these will be on repeat for entertaining!

The perfect appetizer for a get together with friends. This dip has great crab flavor with plenty of cheesy deliciousness! Grab some crackers or pita crisps and dive in!