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Perfect…

June 9, 2022

We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.
Sam Keen, To Love and Be Loved

That quote made me think about the Ed Sheeran song, Perfect. There is a line in the chorus, “darling, you look perfect tonight.”

The topic of perfection has been on my mind lately. Whether it be the perfect summer, the perfect body, the perfect partner or the perfect house…social media, movies, television or even people we cross paths with every day seem “perfect”. And we judge ourselves for it.

The catch is ~ we don’t know everybody’s story. Even close friends and family keep things hidden. We might think they have the perfect __________ (fill in the blank). But the truth is perfect, as least in this sense, doesn’t exist.

I am not perfect. You are not perfect. Honestly, I think ‘perfect’ is boring.

The best television shows, movies and books all have an obstacle to overcome, a lesson to learn.

Don’t judge yourself by how you look or how you accomplish your goals. Instead, know that, the way you approach a situation is perfect for you because only you can approach a situation that way.

I will say it again, I am not perfect. My husband is not perfect. Yet, I am so grateful that he is perfect for me and I am perfect for him. After 32 years of marriage, I know this to be true!

Relationships are not perfect. Children are not perfect. Parenthood is not perfect.

Laughter, though, is the perfect antidote to an imperfect situation. Having a good joke at the ready is always a good idea.

Don’t spend this summer trying to be perfect. Instead, have a fabulous summer full of fun and laughter.

Planting a garden? It’s okay if nothing grows ~ journal what you did and how you did it. Then do it differently next year. Taking a trip? It’s okay if you get a flat tire or it rains ~ make sure you pack the necessities and have a reservation at a hotel or short term rental. The fun will happen magically when you leave the expectations at home. Hitting the beach or pool? It’s okay if last year’s swim suit doesn’t fit ~ there are plenty of stores and even Amazon where you can get a new one. No one cares about your suit, they just want you there having fun with them!

No one and nothing is perfect, or we wouldn’t have uniqueness
Jasmin Morin

Don’t have a perfect summer ~ have a unique one, you know, one that is perfect for you!

Let me know how you choose to spend your summer ~ tag BKYD Life in your IG photos or send us an email using the link below.

Get out of the BKYD

June 8, 2022

For some, the backyard is their whole world; but for others, the world is their backyard.

We fall into the latter category ~ every opportunity we go on an adventure is met with delightful anticipation.

Take, for example, our recent trip to Italy. It was over three years in the making. We started working with a travel agent to assist with the plans back in 2019. The trip was originally scheduled for the fall of 2020, but we all know why it had to be postponed.

Postponing it gave us time to do more research and prepare.

We learned that Italy is home to more than 50 World Unesco Heritage sites. I didn’t even know what a World Unesco Heritage site was. You can read more about them here. It is fascinating how many there are and a great way to learn about history and geography. A great reason to venture out of the backyard!

The sites we visited included:

Check out the Unesco website ~ you may have already seen some of the places on the list.

Other reasons to get out of the backyard include, but are not limited to ~ the food, the people and the culture.

As you can imagine, the food in Italy is fantastic. Did you know each region has it’s signature pasta? Well they do! We spent our time exploring southern Italy with most of our time in Puglia. Puglia is known for Orecchiette pasta. It is pronounced ō-rā″kē-ĕt′ə (I know that probably doesn’t help so watch this YouTube video ~ it will definitely be more helpful!). The name means “pasta in the shape of small ears” (from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition). We ate so much fresh pasta and the seafood along the Amalfi coast was amazing. We made some new friends at a cooking class in Positano. One of them stated they did not like seafood, but really enjoyed the fish we made in class. That is quite a statement about both the quality of the food and, of course, the cooking class.

I firmly believe that the best part of any adventure, whether around your hometown or across the world, is the people. Yes, you can always run into difficult people. But I find that the energy you bring to the situation is very important so if you are kind and positive others will be, too. And let me tell you ~ the people of Italy are just wonderful. Now I know this might be because I am part Italian but the kindness they shared made our trip.

Men from the village of Orsara di Puglia

While many Italians spoke English, we did learn a little Italian for the trip. We also asked them to help us learn a bit more. They were so gracious with helping us to know the correct pronunciation for streets, menu options and names. And, we had fun learning. That is another reason to get out of the backyard ~ you can learn so much!

Getting out of the backyard is great for your mind, body and soul. You will see your hometown and home from a new perspective. You will have a greater appreciation for others. You will learn and grow, then share those lessons.

So, where will you venture to go? We have a started a list of places and some are from the World Unesco Heritage site! Until our next adventure ~ Ciao!

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.

Quick Weekend Getaway

May 14, 2021

A couple weeks ago, my husband and I went on a little weekend getaway for our anniversary. We chose Ojai, California. It is such a sweet little town just a little north of Los Angeles. From our home in Phoenix it’s a simple 45 minute flight and a quick drive in a rental car.

We stayed at the Ojai Valley Inn. It was a magical weekend, to say the least! The property is incredible. The food was so yummy. The rooms are very comfortable. The people ~ it’s always the people that make an experience worth remembering ~ the people of the Ojai Valley Inn (and really the people of Ojai) are just so kind. They answered every question, no matter how simple or silly, with a smile. Each person we encountered just elevated our trip.

We ate. We walked. We relaxed. We shopped. We enjoyed every minute.

We relaxed by the pool. They have several on the property along with a golf course and gorgeous mountain views.

We went wine tasting in town. There are a couple different tasting rooms, but this one was so quaint in an old fire house that I had to take a photo.

We walked all over the resort and peeked into an event space that is referred to as the Farmhouse. The garden beds on one side are enviable.

But the best part of the trip was sitting under the trees at sunset. The guest seemed to be drawn to this area of the resort every evening. There is a slight pink glow that just can’t be captured with an iPhone!

If you ever get a chance I would highly recommend the Ojai Valley Inn for a romantic getaway. I always encourage friends and family to “take the trip” because experience makes you both knowledgeable and grateful. And, in this case, it brought me so much peace. A great place to relax will do that.

So, do you have any trips planned for this summer? I would suggest making plans for weekend getaways ~ they allow for memories to be made all summer long, easier to pack for than a 2 week vacation, and give you the opportunity to see more than just one place.

Now, give me some suggestions on where I should go next…go to this photo on my Instagram and leave me a note on where I should go next.

Hummingbirds and Butterflies

April 27, 2021

Now that the temperatures are starting to warm up and flowers are blooming, the hummingbirds and butterflies are buzzing around my backyard. I love to watch them, they just amaze me.

Have you ever thought about what you can add to your backyard to attract more hummingbirds and butterflies to your outdoor space? Here are a few ideas to get you started~

Hummingbirds

Zdenek Machacek Photo, courtesy of Unsplash

For centuries, gardeners have been fascinated with the beauty and aerobatics of hummingbirds. The key to attracting hummingbirds to your yard is to plant lots of flowers and provide the habitat that will give them shade, shelter, food, water, and security.

Herbs, flowering shrubs, dwarf trees, and vines can all be used to create an ideal tiered habitat from ground level to 10 feet or more.
Provide lots of space between plants to give hummingbirds enough room to hover and navigate from flower to flower.
Hummingbirds love water, especially if it’s moving. A gentle, continuous spray from a nozzle or a sprinkler hose is perfect for a bath on the fly.
Hummingbirds do not have a keen sense of smell and rely on bright colors to find their food.
They are particularly fond of red and are often observed investigating feeders with red parts, red plant labels, red thermometers, and even red clothes on a gardener. Note: Do not use red dye in a hummingbird feeder; there is concern that it may harm the birds. Instead, use plain, clear sugar water (1 part white sugar mixed with 4 parts water). The birds love it! If your feeder does not have red on it, attach a red label or other item to attract them.
Brightly-colored flowers that are tubular hold the most nectar, and are particularly attractive to hummingbirds. These include perennials such as bee balms, columbines, daylilies, and lupines; biennials such as foxgloves and hollyhocks; and many annuals, including cleomes, impatiens, and petunias.

*This information is copied from the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Butterflies

Christopher Paul High Photo, courtesy of Unsplash

To attract butterfly’s to your backyard you need to know what they need. The list includes sunny open spaces, shelter from the wind, and fresh water. They also need plants where they can lay their eggs.

You will need to include food sources in the form of host plants for caterpillars and nectar plants for butterflies. Stick to native plants, as those will encourage the native species of caterpillars and butterflies. Consult your local garden center or Cooperative Extension service for more information on native plants.

Flowers that offer fragrance and nectar are great options for attracting butterflies. These fabulous pollinators are just as interested in a colorful array of flowers as mother’s on Mother’s Day. So go bold, enjoy some color in your backyard and watch the flying friends flock to your outdoor space.

Let’s Talk Compost

April 16, 2021

I grew up in my Italian grandmother’s tiny kitchen. Out of that small space she would regularly create incredible meals for 40+ guests. It all seemed so natural. You really don’t need a lot of space, if you use it well.

One of the lessons I learned from my grandmother in that tiny space was to use a little bit of it for a compost bin. The laundry room was right next to the kitchen so grandma would keep a bin on the dryer and put the food scraps in it. Once it was full, she would transfer it outside.

What to Compost

Items you can compost from your kitchen include ~

Fruits and vegetables
Eggshells
Coffee grounds and filters
Tea bags
Nut shells

Other common household items you can compost include ~

Shredded newspaper
Cardboard
Paper
Yard trimmings
Grass clippings
Houseplants
Leaves
Fireplace ashes

Why to Compost

There are three main reasons to compost~

To create fertile soil
- Composting enriches the soil and helps retain moisture which will suppress plant diseases and pests.
- It also reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.
To close the loop (and give back to the earth that which was taken from it)
- Composting encourages the production of beneficial bacteria and fungi that break down organic matter to create humus, a rich nutrient-filled material.
To work less
- Composting is natural. When trees drop their leaves in the fall it is to isolate the roots. When we compost, we are following in Mother Natures example.

How to Compost in your Backyard

Select a dry, shady spot near a water source for your compost pile or bin. When your kitchen bin is full, transfer the contents to the outside bin.
Your compost pile should have an equal amount of greens to browns. Greens includes materials such as grass clippings, vegetable waste, fruit scraps, and coffee grounds. Browns are materials such as dead leaves and twigs or small branches.
Keep everything moist, it will break down faster than if it stays dry.
Turn the contents of your bin or pile over regularly.
Once your compost pile is established, mix grass clippings and green waste into the pile and bury fruit and vegetable waste under 10 inches of compost material.
When the material at the bottom is dark and rich in color, your compost is ready to use. This usually takes anywhere between two months to two years.

In the Phoenix Metro area, the city will provide you with a compost bin for a nominal fee. You can read more about it here. Don’t live in Phoenix? Search your cities website for composting resources.

If you have a garden, do you compost? You should. Your garden will thank you ~ literally thank you with a much better crop!

Perfect…

Get out of the BKYD