Welcome to the weekend, my friends! It’s GOOD to be home. As much as I love travel, and you know that I love to travel, there is nothing that compares with being home. I’ve spent this past week sitting on the front porch (in our new rocking chairs!), catching up on work, selecting paint colors and stonework (for the fireplace), sitting on the porch some more, and doing a whole lot of other “making the house our own” kind of things.

Did I mention that I’ve spent a whole lot of time just sitting on the porch? The birds are singing nonstop, we’re starting to see flowers in the yard, and there are tiny green buds everywhere. I have never in my life been so excited for the changing seasons. It’s been a fun week.

ON THE BLOG this week: Jalapeno. Honey. Butter. What’s not to love about a sweet and spicy BUTTER? Nothing. That’s the answer. There is nothing I don’t love about this.

Just like its name states this collection of Pasta Salad Recipes For Every Occasion has a pasta salad recipe for any event all year long. Lunch or dinner, potlucks and parties, side dishes and main dishes, it’s all here for you. You’ll want to pin this one asap so you can find the recipes when you need them!

Made without a drop of cream or dairy milk, this Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream is a non-dairy and (accidentally vegan!) ice cream that my boys devour.

What I’m CRAVING: I need these Green Chile Crab Cakes from Taste and Tell in my life stat. And this Shakshuka (baked eggs in spiced tomato sauce) from The Noshery is calling my name too.

My FAVORITE THING this week is this recipe rock. (link HERE) I use it almost every day. Sean found it for me for Christmas and I’ll admit that I didn’t think it would actually work. But it does! I’m forever printing a recipe to make and then the piece of paper gets spilled on or it just isn’t convenient to read. This little contraption manages to hold a single sheet of paper upright with just the stone and magnet. I shared a quick video of me using it on Instagram this week and hundreds of you ordered it! It really is that handy.

What I’m WATCHING: The Princess Bride (link HERE) We watch this one every year or two and it just doesn’t get old. I especially love that my kids enjoy it now too. “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

What I’m READING: Loving My Actual Life: An Experiment in Relishing What's Right in Front of Me by Alexandra Kuykendall (link HERE) So far, I like this book. It’s a lot of common sense, but it’s also a timely reminder that today is every bit as important as all the tomorrows that we’re working towards. I’ll let you know what I think of it after I finish reading the book.

“We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something.” - Mother Teresa

Wishing you a beautiful week full of little things that make you smile!

Mary

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