Rosemary & Thyme

I love having family and friends over for dinner.  Especially when I can entertain outdoors.   One of the ways to keep things stress-free, is to have a few simple make ahead dessert recipes on hand.   Today, I am sharing a recipe for individual cheesecakes baked in Mason Jars.  I found the recipe on Pinterest.  It is by " The Italian Dish" blog.  These are just too cute!!!  Who wouldn't love these yummy mini mason jars filled to the brim cheesecake and fresh fruits...    Directions Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Prep of the Jars: You will need 12 4-ounce mason jars Spray the mason jars with non-stick cooking spray, making sure to spray the bottoms and sides so the crust doesn't stick. Blend the cookies, 2 tablespoons of melted butter in a mini chopper or food processor.  Place about 1 heaping tablespoon of the crumbs into the mason jars and tamp down to make the crust.  ( I used the top of a wooden honey dipper).

Hello friends.  Happy Monday to you all.  We had another gorgeous weekend here.  Almost summer like on Saturday.  The signs of spring are everywhere.  Brightly colored trees and daffodils fill the streets and gardens.  So much beauty and warmth that I cannot help having a big smile on my face. And after the longer than normal winter, this felt pretty perfect for me.  And so hubby and I spend Saturday visiting our favorite nurseries looking for ideas and inspiration.  I was also looking for a white lilac shrub and a hot pink peony plant which are on my wish list for this year.  Most likely, I will find them within the next two weeks since it is still a bit early to plant. On our way home. we stopped at our local supermarket where I spotted these gorgeous lavender tulips.  And you know that I have a soft spot when it comes to pretty flowers.  But honestly, who can pass up these beauties??  Certainly not me.   What is your favorite spring flower???  Will you be adding any pla

Hello sweet friends.  Sun was finally shining here in the Northeast.  The day was just perfect.  Bright, sunny and warm.  The kind of day that lifts your spirits and make you smile. I opened all the windows to let the fresh air in.  Turned the music on and did a little house work.  I just love days like this.  Of course with gorgeous weather, I had to set a table outside. Enjoy your weekend where ever you are.  Here's a beautiful garden table inspiration for you today.... What are your plans for the weekend??  Anything special?? Hugs, Janet

Having a limited budget, I am always thinking of creative ways for revamping and refreshing the rooms in our home without having to have a total overhaul.  Often times, I turn to paint, new window treatments, accessories, and storage pieces to add style and character at an affordable price.  This usually requires a few trips to my local fabric store, Home Goods, antiques shops and thrift stores looking for bargains and unique pieces.  One of the rooms I recently worked on was our master bathroom.  Wanting to create a little refuge for relaxing, pampering and romance I turned to my favorite style which is classic French for inspiration. Tired of the outdated dark vanity in our bathroom and limited storage space, I knew that storage and lighter cabinets were priority for me.  So our big purchase was a new vanity from Lowes.  Staying with my French theme and looking, I selected a creamy white vanity and tall cabinet from Ikea which gave me the extra storage that I needed in my bathro

Hello friends.   I wanted to share a bit of happy news with you all.  I have had the honor of being published in one of my preferred publications, Romantic Homes.  It is the magazines special Spring 2015 issue "Cottage Gardener" where I share a few of my favorites.    The issue is full of images of spectacular gardens, tips for entertaining in the garden and ways to create a romantic garden. I am so overjoyed ladies.  There is something truly special about seen your work published in an actual national magazine.  It feels pretty amazing. Thank you "Romantic Homes" for such an honor. Janet

Hello everyone.  I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend.  Ours, for the first time in years, was very low key. Taking advantage of the low key holiday weekend, I decided to set aside a little me time.  A few hours of solitude to re-charge and gather my thoughts.  To enjoy some tea and browse through the pages of my favorite magazines.  To imagine myself walking through a perfectly manicured garden full of gorgeous spring blooms and splendid green meadows. And so I set up a little corner in my reading room with a few pretty blooms, delicate floral china and enjoyed the flavors of a warm cup of Twinings English Breakfast tea.  What a perfect morning.   Crisp white vintage linens add a touch of elegance to this sweet tea setting. Lovely floral Theodore Haviland vintage china. Such quiet moments are often too hard to come by however, they are not impossible.  So do take a few minutes of your day to re-connect and