What Is A Food Swap?

I can't stop singing the praises of food swaps!  They are fun and exciting and delicious!  I've discovered so many new foods over the last year.  And I hunt Pinterest to find the perfect ideas that are uncommon enough that no one else will bring them but not so uncommon that no one else will want them.

This short 3 minute film does a great job of showing you exactly what takes place at a food swap.  I hope it encourages you to find one in your area too!

These {Squeaker} Shoes Were Made For Walking

Go DAWGS!

Available here.

Um...hello adorable!

Little boy and little girl shoes in NCAA Teams on sale.  One can assume in preparation for fall ball.  Obvi!

I want a child.  For many reasons.  But I'm not going to lie...it would be so much fun to dress him or her up in team spirit.  So super cute!

source

These would make really sweet baby shower gifts.  And it's a fun idea to give to a daddy-to-be at the ever popular (but constantly baffles me why) couples shower.

Is your little love ready for football season?

I Need A Drink!

A bloody with bacon...we call that breakfast in a glass...with a kick!

I have a real {#firstworld} problem on my hands.

I don't have a signature drink!  {gasp!  horror!  #waspproblems} {this is a serious problem....don't laugh}

As in, when I got to meet friends for drinks, I never know what to order.  I never know what I am in the mood for.  So I always either order a sweeter white wine or a glass of champagne.

I'm so boring!

I used to have signature drinks that I loved to order.  You know, go to orders when out with friends.  But the last few years....I always come up empty.  And always order a boring glass of wine.

Here are things I like...

* White vs red wines.  Mostly because whites are cold though.  I am an ice cold drink kind of girl.  Room temp liquid isn't my favorite.

* Vodka vs gin.  I cannot even stand the smell of gin.  I'm not sure I've even had more than two sips- to me it's just pure foul!  How do people get past the smell??  Gag!  So obvi I would pick a drink with vodka in it.

* Sweets vs savory.  Which is likely why, in part, I dislike gin.  In general, I tend to have a sweet tooth.

* Ale vs beer.  I can't really tell you the last time I had either.  At least a decade, I'm quite certain.  But I don't care much for beer.  Or specifically the way it makes me feel puffy.  As far as flavors, I would drink an ale and enjoy it but honestly, I'd likely just drink water instead.

So what are some of your favorite drinks?  Any new discoveries I should try?  Any cautionary tales I should avoid?  Give me some suggestions!  I'm thirsty!

Garden Tip: Pinch Your Tomato Plants Lower Branches

So not only am I suggesting you bury your tomato plants as deep as possible, but I also think you should pinch off the lower branches.

Here me out.  Because I know that a lot of old school, tried and true, this isn't the way we did it gardeners think I'm crazy pants.

You want to keep as much space as possible between the ground and the leaves.  With low laying branches close to or touching the ground, the plants are more susceptible to all sorts of unpleasantness.  It's easier for bugs to nibble on (read: destroy your hard work) your plants and it's easier for soil born diseases to get to the leaves when water splashes up.  This also gives more air-flow around the plant.  And last but not least, I have no need for the plant to put effort into keeping those lower leaves alive.  No need to waste energy on something I don't want there in the first place!

If you just pinch off those lowest branches, it really makes a big difference in keeping your plants safer.

See that yellow branch- it is nearly touching the ground and needs to GO!

This one is in the dirt.

Pinch it.  Pinch it good.

Much better!

No, it is not fool proof.  And no, it is not a guarantee.

But it's helpful.  And I can certainly get all the help I can manage these days.

As my plants grow taller and stronger, I will pinch the next level up of leaves too.  For the same reasons.  But I will wait until the plants are a bit more sturdy before that happens.