Saturday Meanderings

Can it really be April already? I am so happy to be back writing my Saturday post after a whirlwind of events at our home. Getting back on a schedule is welcomed but a bit challenging as I am still doing laundry and putting away all the catering items. Thank you for joining me this weekend as we chat about all good things since my last Saturday Meanderings post.

The Engagement Party

Over the last few months, my husband and I have been working very hard to put the spiff on Bella Terra~from yard work to home repairs to a fresh coat of paint here and there. Our son, Benjamin and his fiancé, Delaney live in Chicago and it’s an easy bribe to get them to Phoenix during their cold winter months. A perfect time to schedule an engagement party with their friends and family here in the Valley of the Sun.

Delaney’s parents made the trip from Virginia Beach and we so enjoyed them staying in our pool house for four days. Other dear friends and relatives also made the trip to attend the party and it is so fun to have the house filled to the brim. Our son surprised us by coming in a day early, too!

Our chickens provided many delicious eggs for breakfast and since the orchard trees are abundant with fruit, we all enjoyed fresh orange, grapefruit and tangerine juice (thank you, Weston for fixing the juicer).

The garden party theme is perfect for the celebration as the weather could not have been better and our property is at its best this time of year. With a late afternoon start time, we serve heavy hors d’oeurves, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages.

Our favorite person, Julie Greder creates the most delicious and visually beautiful spread, including shrimp, smoked salmon, beef tenderloin sandwiches, meatballs, an impressive charcuterie tray. The mini desserts are fabulously presented and yummy too!

We even had the youngest addition to Delaney’s family attend~3 month old, Callie, who traveled like a champ. It has been quite some time since we’ve had a baby around here so we were very happy that she and her parents made the long trip from the east coast.

Having all 3 of our adult children home, pitching in to make this event successful makes us proud parents.

Our last house guest left on Monday and since then, we are still doing laundry, making beds and hopefully by this weekend, will have all the dishes, tables and chairs put away. Our hearts are full and it is a blessing that so many people came together to share their joy and love with the engaged couple.

Finn’s 1st boarding experience

Having so many people in and out would have been stressful for Finn, therefore we decide to board him for 2 days. I don’t think we have ever done that with any dog in the past so it was not without a bit of anxiety. However, Finn did appear to have a wonderful time and came home, not only freshly groomed, but exhausted.

New Rugs in the Kitchen

The three Dash and Albert cotton rug runners in the kitchen are in need of replacing. Initially, I order new ones but they do not arrive before our event. As a back up, my friend and designer, Andrea from Design Morsels, recommends these from Amazon, which arrive in 2 days.

I like them so much and wouldn’t have considered this type/style. But leave it to Andrea to come up with a better and less expensive solution. The 2.6′ x 8′ Leevan rugs are washable, reversible and come in 8 different colors. These green/cream ones go perfectly with my countertops and Roman shades in the kitchen. I use 3 rugs around the island. Rug pads are needed as the backing is not rubberized but I have pads from the last rugs. Only $52.99 each and you can find them here.

Darn Pill Bugs

Growing strawberries is hit or miss here. But this year, my crop looks healthy and is producing quite a few strawberries. This week I pick a few only to find the underside of the berry loaded with pill bugs who have burrowed into the fruit. Yuck.

In addition to spreading diatomaceous earth around the soil, I also put a few bowls of beer as bait. I am hoping the pill bugs cannot help themselves and will drink (and drown) in the beer bowl. Not a bad way to go I suppose, so we’ll see how successful this is next week.

Amazing Product

As you can imagine, lots of cleaning took place prior to our house guests arriving. I am always so impressed with how well Krud Kutter works on those tough greasy jobs. Take a look at the tile behind our outdoor barbecue area. Doesn’t look too dirty until I spray Krud Kutter on the backsplash.

What’s nice about this product is that you just spray it on and let it do its work. No scrubbing required~just wipe it down after a few minutes.

Look how clean the backsplash is now…and it really didn’t take very long with the help of Krud Kutter.

Mary Must Haves

The one item that was used multiple times by our house guests is a clothing steamer. Packing wrinkles easily disappear with a hand-held steamer. Here is one that is 35% off on Amazon, with over 120,000 reviews, priced at $29.99. I also use my steamer to get wrinkles out of tablecloths and fine linen.

A definite must-have!

Do You Use a Color Corrector?

I recently received a sample of Cicapair, a color correcting treatment by Dr. Jart+ with SPF 30. This grass green cream  instantly neutralizes redness and evens skin tone. Well, the sample is empty and I am purchasing a new container. A little goes a long way as it feels more like a lotion than a foundation.

There is a 5% discount on Amazon with a price of this jar is $23.75. Not sure why my skin seems to get blotchier as I age, but it helps to have a product that I can wear under my foundation to reduce any redness.

Well, that’s a wrap! In addition to some rest and relaxation this weekend, we are doing a 5K with our neighbors on Sunday. The weather here is truly fantastic and on the cool side. Wishing you a fabulous weekend. Any fun plans? Remember, stay safe out there.