Saturday Meanderings

After all the excessive rain and downpours, the sun is finally shining, and the earth feels as though it has just enjoyed a much-needed, refreshing bath. Here in Phoenix, we are settling into a glorious weather season~cool mornings, warm afternoons, and those endless, crystal-clear blue skies. You may be getting tired of hearing about all my travels, but I have one more adventure to share! I’m currently in Peachtree City, Georgia, spending time with my sweet blogging friends. We are staying at Chloe’s (Celebrate and Decorate) new, beautiful home. Let’s get started catching up so grab your favorite beverage and settle in! There is a lot to share this week.

Halloween Chocolate Bark

Up until now, I have never made chocolate bark, although I certainly enjoy eating it! When I came across this Sweet and Salty Halloween Candy Corn bark recipe from Annie at Most Lovely Things for Halloween, I decided it was time to finally give it a try. I made a batch and must say, it is surprisingly easy and so much fun to put together.

My daughter, Elisabeth, hosted her very first Halloween party, and I thought this would be a fun treat to share with her guests. Using three types of chocolate, candy corn, roasted peanuts, and a sprinkling of flaky sea salt, the bark is not only festive but delicious, too!

Once the chocolate set, I broke it into pieces, tucked them into clear bags, and tied each one with an orange and black ribbon. Such a simple presentation, but it did make a lovely little party favor.

Now I’m already thinking about making another batch for Christmas, perhaps with a more holiday-inspired combination of chocolates and toppings. Isn’t it fun when you discover something new that is both easy to make and enjoyable to share?

An Arduous Week in the Garden

Typically, I plant my vegetable garden in early October, so I’m a bit behind schedule this year. However, with such gorgeous weather, I’m hoping the delay will not have an adverse effect on vegetable production.

If you recall, two years ago we had quite a battle with invasive and abundant Bermuda grass in our raised garden beds. This stuff is absolutely relentless! Well, it’s back, although to a lesser degree. Since I never want to use chemicals in my organic vegetable garden, this means each of the beds require digging out the existing soil, removing every bit of Bermuda grass root structure (truly horrible), sifting the soil and then amending it with fresh, healthy soil.

After several days of shoveling, sifting, lifting and hauling, my muscles are very sore! But I’m finally getting the planting done. Fortunately, my sweet husband pitched in to help, and we’ve managed to get about 90% of the beds completed. Teamwork makes the garden work!

This year’s vegetable lineup (from Whitfill Nursery) includes Early Girl, Cherry, Yellow Pear and San Marzano tomatoes, strawberries, rhubarb, various lettuces, kale, arugula, radicchio, sweet and snap peas, and lots of herbs. The only plant that managed to survive our brutal summer was the tarragon. So strange!

I’ve also added plenty of marigolds, mostly for their cheerful pop of color, but they are also wonderful companion plants and can help with certain garden pest issues.

Now that the hard work is nearly behind me (at least in the garden), I’m looking forward to watching everything grow. Now on to the rest of the yard..

First time to Peachtree City, Georgia

My flight from Phoenix to Atlanta was surprisingly short (less than three hours), and it is such a joy to reconnect with my blogging friends for our annual get-together. Not only do I enjoy their company, but I always come away having learned something new. There is so much creativity, inspiration, and knowledge in this group!

Peachtree City, Georgia…oh my! What an attractive town! From its beautiful architecture and lush landscaping to its abundance of outdoor amenities, this community of nearly 40,000 residents has so much to offer. There are lakes, golf courses, lovely neighborhoods, and just about every shopping convenience you could want, including Chico’s and a Trader Joe’s. One of the most charming things I’ve noticed is the number of golf carts everywhere. Apparently, many students even use them to get to school! Peachtree City has an extensive network of golf cart paths that makes getting around town a way of life. What a fun and unique community.

Chloe graciously agreed to let me share some photos of her beautiful Southern home, and I have to say, I am so impressed with her ability to completely reinvent her decorating style from one home to another. Meanwhile, there’s me, who seems perfectly content to keep the same furniture and decorating style for 40 years!

Her previous Florida home was beautifully decorating in blue and white, but this new home has an entirely different personality. Think Ralph Lauren, decorated with rich greens, plaids, leather, marble, and wonderfully layered textures. It feels warm, sophisticated, and incredibly inviting. And with the gorgeous fall foliage just outside her windows, the setting couldn’t be more perfect.

One decorating detail I particularly love (and I’m already thinking about replicating) is her television. Rather than staring at an enormous black screen when it’s not in use, Chloe has a Samsung The Frame TV, which displays artwork and looks just like a beautiful framed painting. What a clever way to incorporate technology without sacrificing the aesthetics of a room!

And speaking of beautiful, this part of Georgia is very pretty. The fall foliage is spectacular, and the views from Chloe’s living room make you feel like you are living right up in the treetops. What a lovely introduction to Peachtree City!

Mary Must Haves

After so much traveling, I have a new appreciation of a few items. First, is the Charmast Power Bank Portable Charger with Reinforced Built-in 4 Cables. This ultra-slim portable charger comes with 4 reinforced cables built right in: 1 cable for iPhone 12 to iPhone 14 series, plus earlier models and older iPads; USB-C cable for iPhone 15 and newer, modern iPads, Samsung, and Google Pixel devices; Micro-USB cable for older Android phones and accessories; plus a USB-A input port for recharging the power bank itself. No extra cords needed. Just grab this one and charge virtually any phone or tablet you have — old or new. Comes in 11 different colors and only $22.99.

I love this travel pill container, VAYDEER Metal Weekly Pill Organizer. It’s moisture-proof with a built-in desiccant chamber and airtight lids . The rose gold sleeve keeps the lids from popping open. The capacity is pretty large for vitamins, medicines and supplements. Actually, I need to purchase another as I take supplements twice a day. Nice slim size and doesn’t take up any room in a suitcase~$15.99.

Laundry Detergent Search

Recently, my husband bought Tide laundry liquid soap and I couldn’t stand the smell. What’s up with that? So, Chloe has recommended Blue Land Laundry Detergent Tablets. Plastic-free, eco-friendly laundry tablets. Tough on stains, gentle on the planet. The tablet is 100% plastic-free and is tried, tested, and proven to lift the toughest stains—from grass and coffee to food and makeup—without any harsh chemicals. Formulated safe for family, healthier for planet, and powerfully effective so you can ditch plastic pods and sheets for a higher standard of clean. 60 tablets for $36.99.

If you are interested in getting rid of plastic, Blue Land also makes a dishwasher tablets too.

Lastly, I ordered 2 more of my favorite t-shirts in Radish and another one in my fave, Olive. The Radish color is priced at $12.00. Vintage Olive is a bit more, but I love it so much I bought another! Here’s the link to these fabulous Timeless t-shirts (long sleeve)!

I’m enjoying a few more days here in Georgia, soaking up the autumn leaves and making memories with my friends. Once I get home, I know there will be plenty of yard projects waiting for me. Until then, wishing you all a safe, happy and fun weekend!