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The Antiques and Garden Show

February 16, 2022

This past weekend was filled with a lot of events and activities. Some parents of school-aged children were scrambling to find the right solution for the class Valentine’s ~ only to realize that the stores were all sold out and they had to get creative. A recored crowd attended the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, AZ ~ could you blame them, it was 80* there! I heard something about a little football game in Los Angeles, CA ~ did you watch the Superbowl? And, the Antiques and Garden Show in Nashville, TN.

While the golf tournament was 20 minutes from my house, I choose to fly to Nashville for the Antiques and Garden Show. I have been to Nashville many times before and so I knew what a great town it is to spend a little time. The Show was downtown at the Music City Center, a beautiful convention complex.

Downtown Nashville, the building in the foreground is the Music City Center.

Proceeds from the event benefitted both Cheekwood and ECON Charities. Cheekwood is a botanical garden and ECON is an service organization local to Nashville. You can click the links to learn more about them. If you would like to learn about other botanical gardens, click here to read a recent article.

The speaker lineup was impressive. Martha Stewart was the keynote speaker and Bunny Williams was not only the Garden & Landscape Design speaker, she was also the Honorary Chair for the event. The Lifestyle lecture was given by the ladies of The Home Edit, Clea Shearer and Joanna Templin ~ have you seen their show on Netflix or read their books? And, the final talk was given by Alexa Hampton who spoke about the business of design. I attended Bunny Williams talk ~ stay tuned for an article coming next week all about that.

When I was not attending a lecture, I browsed the display hall. The organizers of the event invited many vendors from all over the US, I noted retailers from Georgia, Florida, California, Tennessee and some online retailers. Here are a few photos for your visual enjoyment ~

For more photos, check out bkyd.life on Instagram.

If you get a chance to attend the Antiques and Garden Show next year, I would suggest you go. There are so many ideas to getting the most out of your indoor and outdoor space. If you click over to the official website, you can subscribe to updates for the next show. Start making plans now and I just might see you there!

How to Transform Your Yard Into Your Own Getaway Spot

November 12, 2021

Many people with backyards and patios don’t spend much time using them. Perhaps it’s because the space doesn’t provide privacy or maybe it doesn’t have any inviting features. If this sounds like you, don’t let your outdoor space go to waste. There are many easy projects you can do to make your yard or patio into an outdoor oasis that you can’t wait to use.

Tackle Backyard Privacy Issues

For many people, the biggest deterrent to spending time outside is that there’s no privacy from the neighbors. Luckily, this is one of the easiest problems to fix.

Potted plants or hedges can both make great privacy screens.
If you don’t have the patience to grow your own screen, faux plant screens work, too.
If the faux plant look isn’t for your, it’s easy to build a basic wooden privacy wall.
Building a fence is another option: be sure to document the installation as this project could increase your home’s value.

Give Your Patio a Makeover

Woman sitting in a wicker chair in a garden, writing.

A deck or patio is the perfect place to sit and enjoy some fresh air. However, if your patio has seen better days, it’s probably not beckoning you to spend time outside right now.

If your current patio is beyond repair, start from scratch by building a DIY deck.
A deck in decent shape can be restored with a fresh coat of stain or an oil finish.
Get some comfortable furniture that you’ll actually want to use.
Better yet, make a porch swing to sit on.
Pick up a few large containers and plant some flowers or greenery to liven up the porch.
Put the finishing touch on your patio by using candles, lanterns or outdoor string lights.
Enhance the area around your patio by hiring backyard landscaping services to beautify your yard.

Add Kid-Friendly Features

If you’ve got a family, making your backyard appealing to the kids is a great way to get them outside more often. These ideas can make your yard fun and educational at the same time.

If you don’t have a playset or swing, consider putting one in.
Something as simple as a sandbox can provide hours of fun for little ones.
Adding a garden provides a great learning opportunity as well as healthy, whole foods.
A garden can also involve children in meal planning and cooking.
Use your backyard as a learning opportunity for children. There are several fun activities you can encourage, such as stargazing and building bird houses.

If you’re lucky enough to have a patio or backyard, make sure you put the space to good use. Adding privacy features, making your yard kid-friendly, and revamping your patio will completely transform your outdoor space into a place that feels like true getaway.

This article was written by guest writer, Carrie Spencer of The Spencers Adventures.

Do you have an idea for an article for BKYD Life? Please send us an email at hello@bkydlife.com, we would love to chat about it and maybe you, too, can be featured!

Homemade Ice Cream, without a Machine

July 16, 2021

When it is hot, I love ice cream. Oh, who am I to talk…I have been known to enjoy an ice cream cone any time of year, in any weather. But, is there anything better on a hot day than a cool treat?

How about homemade ice cream? And even better, let’s make it without a machine. I have too many gadgets in my kitchen so I really don’t want another one. So, recipe first then the process.

Recipe

This recipe will make approximately 1 1/2 quarts of vanilla ice cream

1 3/4 cup heavy cream
1 1/4 cup whole milk
3/4 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

HINT: If you want to make the ice cream really flavorful, you can scrape the seeds out of 1 vanilla bean pod and use them INSTEAD of the vanilla extract)

Process

Keep all ingredients cold as you combine them. Pour it into an 8 or 10 inch square baking dish.

I typically use a metal pan (because it freezes so quickly and easily), but a glass pan will also work.

Place it in the freezer for 90 minutes. Remove from the freezer and whisk the mixture, scraping the sides of the pan and breaking up any frozen chunks. Since the mixture is starting to freeze you will need a heavy duty whisk.

Return the pan to the freezer.

After 45 minutes, you will once again take it out of the freezer and whisk the mixture. Again, remember to scrape the sides of the pan. Return the pan to the freezer.

After 30 minutes, you will once again take it out of the freezer and whisk the mixture. Don’t forget to scrape the sides of the pan. Return the pan to the freezer.

Repeat this process every 30 minutes until it is the desired consistency. The more you times you whisk the mixture, the airier and fluffier the ice cream will become.

Making ice cream without a machine does take practice. Good thing it is a long hot summer, it will give you plenty of time to practice.

But now the fun begins ~ top with whatever your heart desires…chocolate, hot fudge, cookie crumbs, fruit, whipped cream, maybe a cherry on top ~ you can’t go wrong with this ice cream as your base!

Tag @bkyd.life on IG so we can see how it turned out!

Friday 5: Road Trip Essentials

June 25, 2021

2021 has been deemed the “Year of the Road Trip”! This past weekend, we drove to Flagstaff, AZ from Phoenix. For those of you that don’t know Arizona, these two cities are approximately 2 hours apart by car but completely different in elevation. Phoenix is definitely in the desert and Flagstaff is in the cool pines. As a matter of fact, Flagstaff is the gateway to the Grand Canyon. Have you been to the Grand Canyon? It is one of the best places see on a road trip!

But, getting back to road trips in general. For a road trip to be successful, you need a few things. We asked, on Instagram, what the top needs were and you answered (thanks for the input followers!) The suggestions seemed to fall into five categories, so it’s the Friday 5 Road Trip Essentials.

Entertainment

If you are traveling with children then you know they will need something other than music and the open road to keep them occupied. Plan ahead and have those tablets or game consoles charged before you leave. It is also wise to bring chargers, you never know when a recharge will be needed!

Adults only, trip? Download a good play list or podcast. There are so many good podcasts now ~ do you have a favorite? Reach out on Instagram and share yours!

I love a good summer read, if I’m not driving! Or when we get to the beach or cabin in the mountains. Check out the Just Try It girls, they asked their readers to share great book selections for the summer. The link will take you right to the post with all the great reading ideas. I picked up a few from this list to read this summer.

Snacks

I think we can all agree that snacks are mandatory. That said, snack preference is very personal.

Some people have food allergies and others are just picky. I would suggest that snacks be easy to eat while moving (soup would not make my list). Choose foods like crackers (goldfish are a great option) or pretzels because neither leave hands messy.

If you or someone you are traveling with have a sweet tooth, grab gummies or licorice since neither will melt.

Whatever you like make sure you have it on hand so you can be road trip ready at a moments notice.

Fashion

The great thing about a road trip is that it can be spontaneous and the weather can be too! Things to pack to be prepared for anything include: swimsuit, closed-toed shoes, a rain jacket and a sweatshirt! You just never know when you might find a stream to cool off, a trail to hike, an unexpected downpour or a chilly evening and not being prepared might make the road trip unenjoyable. None of these items take up too much space, so be prepared and have fun!

Well-running auto

Your road trip can be over before it starts if your car is not up to the task. Whether at home or out on the open road, having your car or SUV in good working order is helpful. But braking down or having a flat tire out in the middle of nowhere will really change the excitement of a road trip quickly.

If you keep your maintenance current and get your tires checked regularly, you can be spontaneous with your road trips. Some of the best road trips require little to no planning.

Always check that tires are properly inflated and in solid condition, that includes your spare tire too. Talk to your car care center to make sure that fluids are topped-off or changed if they are dirty or contaminated, radiator and cooling system are in proper operation, and belts and hoses are in good shape.

Keeping your car road trip ready means those trips can be more fun and less work!

Sunscreen

And the final item that is necessary for a successful road trip is sunscreen. You need to wear it in the car and when you are out exploring. Sunny days or cloudy days, it doesn’t matter. Bring it along and reapply every 90 minutes or so.

I recently had a spot removed from my forehead and don’t want anyone to go through that. So, please wear your sunscreen whether you road trip, fly to your destination or stay home this summer. Take care of your skin ~ it needs to last your whole life!

Picnic Time

June 18, 2021

Is a picnic on your summer bucket list? It’s on mine!

A picnic is so much more than just a backyard bbq. Of course, you can have a picnic in your backyard, but why not see go some place new. You know have an adventure. A summer picnic is the perfect excuse.

When you simply have a bbq or picnic in your backyard, you can easily run back in the house if you forgot something. But a true picnic requires some planning.

Here are some things to keep in mind ~

Location, location, location

Just like with real estate, where you picnic matters. You need to do some research. Here are a few points to keep in mind ~

How far do you want to drive?
What will the weather be like?
Will there be picnic tables?
Is this a romantic adventure or is the whole family invited?
What other activities do you want to participate in other than the picnic (i.e. go swimming in a lake, go for a hike, horseback riding, etc.)

These will all impact which direction to go and what to pack for both the picnic and other activities.

Supply list

You don’t want to forget something you will need, like a corkscrew to open that bottle of wine. Here’s a list to help you get ready (email me with anything I forgot so I can update this list for future adventures!)

A blanket ~ or really any kind of ground cover. You could use a beach towel, tablecloth, quilt or old comforter. It just needs to be something to lay out over the ground and is large enough to fit all the picnic attendees. Going somewhere with picnic tables, perfect ~ you can use it on the table or the bench to add a special touch.
Plates, glasses, utensils and napkins will come in handy. Just like packing a lunch, you need all the paraphernalia to enjoy the food. Maybe you going to make sandwiches, fill water bottles and bring cookies for dessert ~ then all you need are napkins. If the kiddos are coming, keep it simple. If this is a romantic situation, bring the appropriate items to make to complete the mood (i.e. glasses for the wine and a knife for the cheese)
Corkscrew or bottle opener ~ I don’t think this needs any further explanation.
A cutting board and knife ~ make the sandwich fresh, on-site. Slice the bread and cheese right before enjoying them.
Ice chest ~ to keep some of your items cool.
Trash bags and paper towels ~ so you can clean up after your picnic. Also, it might be a good idea to bring some antibacterial wipes for your hands before you enjoy your spread.
Miscellaneous items ~ to help set the mood. While the spot you choose will have some ambiance, you might want to complete the setting with flowers, candles (maybe battery-powered ones so you don’t start a wild fire) and music.

Next comes the good stuff ~ what food will you take, do you have a bottle of your favorite wine and where will you go? Whatever you decide, enjoy. That is what summer is all about!

5 Tips for Capturing Backyard Fun

June 11, 2021

Summer is backyard gathering season. Are you ready to capture those memories?

Whether you are hosting or enjoying someone else’s backyard, you will want to remember this time. Photos help us to remember, not only events, but the emotions that go along with the gathering. I am not a photographer (but we will be talking with one soon, look for that interview early next month), but here are 5 tips I have learned.

Tip #1

The best camera to use is the one in your hand. So many of us keep our smart phone with us at all times, so use it to document the moment.

I don’t recommend this lightly. I am a firm believer that when we are gathering together, phones should be put away so everyone can stay present in the moment. Being present while gathering is all about making connections and forging bonds in relationships. That can’t happen when even one person at a family gathering has their nose in their phone.

That said, even simple gatherings or a day of fun in the yard is worth documenting.

Tip 2

Mix up candid and posed photos. If every photo is posed then they don’t tell the whole story of the event. You want your photo gallery to be rich in diversity. Take some posed, but get creative and take some less expected photos.

Candid photos take some practice. Getting someone in the air as they jump into the pool can be difficult, but so worth it. Keep clicking and you will get some good ones. That’s the genius of digital, it’s easy to delete the bad photos.

Tip 3

The photographer doesn’t need to be an adult. It can be fun to see what the kids focus on when they get to take photos. Let everyone have a turn at taking a few photos. This, again, will increase the diversity of your photo gallery.

Tip 4

You don’t need a big event to grab the camera. It can just be a day with you and the kids in the backyard playing, maybe swimming in the pool.

I know I love the photos I have of my own children when it was just the 3 of us playing in the pool. They were such hams, jumping in the pool over and over. It gave me plenty of time to practice my skill of capturing them in mid-air. Those photos are just as precious to me as the professional shots of the 4 of us posing for the camera.

Tip 5

Those photos you just took are great, but will be better categorized and put in an album. It can be either a physical album or digital. But doing it as soon as possible after your take the photos is best.

You will want to note the people in the photos, in case there is some extended family or friends. Doing it 20 years later makes it tough to remember every name with every face.

You can share albums and use them to look back on past traditions. I love looking at photos of my grandparents, long gone, but so happy at family gatherings.

I hope these tips help you enjoy your backyard fun, over and over again.

The Antiques and Garden Show