Preorder Move Slow & Make Things, and enjoy a collection of thoughtful bonus content created just for you!

Recipes

a slice of life

easy creamy potato & ham soup jars

We are just in one of those seasons of life when things are really busy.  I’m sure so many of you can relate.  You get a few months in a row when evenings and weekends are generally quiet and then you hit a stretch when there is something happening every single day.  Jeff has a meeting at church, the boys have climb team practice, I have a women’s event or a planning committee meeting, Jeff has a men’s thing, we have small group, Marshall has a 7th-grade boy’s hangout, the kids have tubing with the youth group…  It’s all good stuff and fun stuff, but it’s meant that we’re either eating early or late.   So, meal prep on the weekends has been key and a big part of that is making soup jars.  I cook one or two big pots of soup (usually a double recipe) and portion it out

Read More
a slice of life

quick turkey avocado burgers

Back in January, I started taking pictures of what I was eating through the day…mostly breakfast, lunch, and some snacks, and sharing it on my Instagram Stories.  I didn’t plan to continue doing it, but I’ve received so many comments from people who have found it inspiring and encouraging, so I’ve kept sharing.  As a side benefit, it’s helped hold me accountable, too.  I want to eat healthy, pretty meals that I’m proud to share. I have been making some progress in the weight loss department, but being sick has slowed down my weekly workouts.  I hope to get back to them consistently when I get back from my trip to Florida next week (to have a mini creative retreat with Shaunna.)  I haven’t been following any consistent plan, but have been trying to eat whole foods, more protein, healthy fats, and lower carbs.  I also try to “eat my

Read More
a slice of life

German Cucumber Salad Recipe

One thing I grew to love during my childhood spent in Germany was German food!  Oh, my mouth waters just thinking about it the warm pretzels with fresh butter, spaetzle with brown gravy, potato pancakes topped with fine applesauce, and crispy schnitzel.  I also loved German cucumber salad. Several years ago, I received this recipe from a German woman who gave it to me after we got into a conversation about German food.  I’ve made it multiple times over the years and it’s always a winner – fresh, crispy, and tasty. Lately, I’ve been working on eating healthier.  Specifically, I’m eating whole foods, watching my portions, lowering my carbs and sugars, and increasing protein and healthy fats.  (And it’s even better with homemade mayo.)  This cucumber salad fits right into that plan, so I’ve been making it every couple of weeks to eat with lunch or dinner (or even as

Read More
a slice of life

how I make grab & go salad jars

I’ve learned that when it comes to healthy eating, I need to make it easy.  If I have healthy food on hand that’s visible, fresh, quick, and tasty, I will make better choices.  Well, editing the fridge and pantry helps, too, so I don’t have a stash of something that’s going to derail my efforts. For the last few years, I’ve been making salad jars to keep in the fridge, so it’s easy and convenient to eat a quick veggie-loaded salad for lunch or as a side with a quick dinner.  I’ve also found that the glass keeps the lettuce and other veggies crisp for several days. When I shared these salad jars on Instagram, I received tons of questions!  What do I put in the jars?  How do I eat them?  When do I add the dressing?  Etc.  So, I decided to make a video showing how I make

Read More
a slice of life

pomegranate barley salad

A few years ago, some friends from our church brought over a container of…I didn’t even know what to call it.  Was it a side dish?  A salad?  A snack?  A hot or cold cereal?  But you don’t ask those kinds of questions when someone is offering you a homemade gift.  What they did say was this was a family favorite and some members of their family like it with maple syrup – pomegranate barley salad. When I opened the lid of the container, I took a visual inventory of all of the ingredients…  barley, pomegranate seeds, chocolate chips, and walnuts.  Hmmm…okay.  Interesting.   I got a spoon out of the drawer and tried it.  I wasn’t sure if I liked it at first.  The contrast of textures and flavors wasn’t something I had ever experienced.  But, I kept going back for more and I realized that I really liked it!

Read More
a slice of life

tips for gingerbread house success

I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to make gingerbread this year because of my healing shoulder.  Rolling out dough that’s been refrigerated overnight is not a one-arm kind of job!  But, my friend, Cheri, volunteered to make gingerbread with me, so she could do the rolling and I could share some of my gingerbread house success tips with her.  While I was sharing my tips with her, I thought I would turn the camera on and share them with you as well! Both Cheri and I made our dough the day before and refrigerated it.  We then got together at her house to make and decorate the cookies and houses together. Her house is so pretty!  She lives in a split level, which is such a challenging layout, and she did an amazing job making the house flow.  My favorite corner is this space just off her kitchen with

Read More
a slice of life

tips on decorating cakes with flowers

Before we chat about flowers and cakes, two things…  The winner of the mini landscapes is Ann Stuart Cassell!  Congrats!  And yes, for those asking, I will do more of those minis and have more giveaways in the future. Second, a new The Creative Exponent podcast is available – Episode 5: Don’t Wait for Perfect.  You can listen to it HERE. As soon as I put the in my shopping cart, I envisioned a four-layer naked cake decorated with flower sitting on top.  I have long loved that look, specifically done by Courtney of French Country Cottage.  She just has a knack with flowers.  And cakes. I initially started thinking through my cake pans, figuring out how I would make this cake and then I remember the time I baked 5 dozen mini cupcakes the night before the Lucketts Spring Market and realized I should just hire this out to

Read More
a slice of life

simple summer dinner

More and more, I don’t mind cooking dinner, but  I hate having to use creative energy to figure out what I’m going to make for dinner.  I do like meal services for that reason and we do those occasionally, but I’m on my own most of the time.  That means that I keep things pretty simple… naan pizzas, breakfast for dinner, soup, etc.  We also do the tried and true standby of chicken, veggies, and a starch. One of our favorites during the late spring and summer is asparagus and chicken.  It’s such a simple dinner, but it’s very tasty. Let’s start with the asparagus.  I prefer skinny asparagus since they are more tender, but I was only able to find the big boys when I was at the store this week.  In that case, I’ll cut them in half or quarters length-wise. I put them in a shallow pan

Read More

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.

next art sale

May 20th, 2026 at 1pm EST

Now Available for Preorder

Move Slow & Make Things

A book about creativity, intention, and making things with care. Sign up to receive updates, preorder details, and exclusive bonus content.

From the Studio

Artful pieces for your home and everyday life.

From original paintings and art prints to Pup Club releases and curated goods, each piece is created or chosen to bring warmth, creativity, and character into your home.

From the Studio and Home

Shop the Feed

A handpicked collection of items styled and shared throughout posts, projects, and social feeds. Every product is thoughtfully chosen to reflect a timeless, collected aesthetic.

Recent Video

Spring Posts

Explore the Shop

Explore the Blog

Categories
error: Content is protected.

Pin It on Pinterest