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a slice of life
Holiday

favorite family holiday recipes

We are in the thick of yummy food season, so I thought I would share a round-up of some of our family’s favorite holiday recipes.  There are still a few more that I need to add to the blog like Linda’s sweet potato casserole, our Christmas cheese grits, and Rosa’s cheese spread.  It’s always such a flurry in the kitchen during the holidays that I don’t always think about taking pictures!  I just need to get things made and in the oven. Anyway, here are some holiday recipes we enjoy making and eating through the holiday season… pomegranate & barley salad I will readily admit that this holiday recipe is a strange one, but this pomegranate & barley salad is surprisingly yummy and a great way to use seasonal pomegranate.  In this recipe, I also share some tips on seeding a pomegranate quickly and efficiently.  This makes a good snack

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November 24, 2021 5 Comments
Holiday

Maple Sugar House Cookies & Finding Home Farms

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by .  I’ve known Laura of Finding Home Farms for years and I’m so pleased to officially partner with her family’s business.  As always, all words and opinions expressed are honest and my own.  There is a coupon code at the bottom of this post to help you save on your holiday shopping. We need to rewind back to the very early days of blogging for this story.  Laura Putnam of was one of my blogger peers.  We did blog-hops together and linky parties and met up at blog conferences.  We also were both vendors at the very first Chapel Market in Pike Road, AL.  Laura is actually standing directly behind me in this picture! (Oh man, what a crew!  I’m still in touch and friends with so many of these people.) I even have her book!  It’s DIY Rustic Modern Metal Crafts. At that

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November 12, 2021 11 Comments
Fall

simple fall simmer pot

This week, the temps started to drop and we only recently had our first frost here in Minnesota.  It’s actually come pretty late this year and we haven’t even seen a flake of snow, yet!  But, I am ready for fires, slippers, hot chocolate, and for the house to smell like fall.  So, yesterday, I made up a simple fall simmer pot with what I had on hand. I started by filling a 4 qt. dutch oven with water and then dropped anything in the simmer pot with a yummy, homey, fall scent.  Sliced apples, dried cinnamon sticks (these were out of a Christmas decor bin from last year), fresh rosemary, and a few drops of clove essential oil.  I thought I had some whole clove and all-spice, but I only had ground, so I just used what I had.  It really is hard to go wrong with a simmer

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November 4, 2021 10 Comments
a slice of life

a day in stillwater, mn

For a few weeks now, Jeff has been trying to get me to go on a day trip.  As someone who is a natural homebody, the pandemic, lockdowns, and busyness have all made it easier to become even more of a homebody.  And I recognize that isn’t necessarily a good thing.  So, when some of our friends shared about the oldest town in Minnesota, Stillwater, Jeff decided we needed to do a day trip there before winter set in.  He has Mondays off, so he picked yesterday to whisk me away.  I packed a small bag with some sketching supplies in case we just sat by the St. Croix river for a while, but our plan was to hit some of the local shops, grab lunch, and walk along the river. It was the perfect day weather-wise.  Clear and sunny, warm, but with a crisp fall chill in the air. 

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October 19, 2021 49 Comments
a slice of life

August & September 2021 Favorites

I don’t know about you, but August and September were a blur!  Well, not quite a blur, but I realized I hadn’t done a favorites post for August about halfway through September and then I could hardly remember my favorites from August.  So, I decided to put them together in one post of late summer favorites and there are some really good ones… (This post contains affiliate links.) little boy Jeff told me a long time ago that I would love the movie and should watch it and, for some reason, I just dragged my feet on it.  I have no idea why.  We finally watched it in September and he was absolutely right.  I loved this movie.  It was more than enjoyable…it was touching, beautiful, funny, powerful, and moving.  It covers themes like innocent faith, unwavering love, and learning to know and love people as individuals instead of judging

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October 17, 2021 18 Comments
a slice of life

the feels like home giveaway

I am so excited to share that my new book, , launches in just four days!  And this is the final giveaway to celebrate the book launch.  This giveaway is appropriately named “The Feels Like Home Giveaway.”  In this package of goodies are all things you can use to make your house feel a little more like home.  They are all things that are comfortable, beautiful, and work together to create a homey ambiance.  You’ll see what I mean as you look through this amazing collection of items… Of course, for the Feels Like Home giveaway, I have to include a signed copy of … I’m also tucking in a couple of things I crocheted – a dishcloth and a little scrubby… I haven’t made patterns for these specific pieces, but you can find other crochet patterns HERE. A beautiful handmade quilt made from fabric I designed by Marilla Melcher

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October 8, 2021 782 Comments
a slice of life

creamy chicken & wild rice soup recipe

Soups are definitely my specialty!  I love that I can make a whole bunch at one time that will last for quick & tasty lunches and dinners throughout the week.  I love they are healthy & hearty, even when you add a little bit of cream.  Soups are just a win all-around for me.  One of my favorite soups is creamy chicken & wild rice and this is the recipe I’ve used and tweaked over the years… I don’t even know how many pots of this creamy chicken & wild rice soup I’ve made!  I just know that we’ve eaten it a lot over the past decade and it’s always a crowd-pleaser.  The creamy broth makes it heartier and more flavorful than a chicken noodle soup, but the flavors are definitely nostalgic and perfect for snowy and sick days. ( I use.) When cooking this creamy chicken & wild rice

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October 7, 2021 38 Comments
Decorating

making a beautiful, comfortable bed with brooklinen

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Brooklinen.  As always, all words and opinions are honest and my own. Use promo code MUSTARDSEED to get $20 off your Brooklinen order of over $100. I was having a conversation with one of my good friends a couple of weeks ago and she shared that she just bought all new bedding.  It was a splurge, a deliberate investment in herself and her sleep after a particularly trying couple of years.  When I got off the phone with her, I thought, good for you.  We often overlook pampering ourselves by making sure our bed is comfortable and inviting. I’ve learned the value of good bedding over the past few years and it’s become a non-negotiable to me.  It goes beyond decorating and aesthetics because sleep is so vital to our physical and mental health, our mood, productivity, and creativity.  We spend 1/3 of our

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September 28, 2021 22 Comments

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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