Yes, please to cheese! The Artisan Cheese Company in the Rosemary District.is a great little spot. I recommend pairing your board with a crisp Rose or Sauvignon Blanc. I’d say it’s the perfect little spot for a lunch date.
Say Cheese!
A Slice of Heaven in Sarasota!
One of my favorite places in Sarasota is Selby Gardens. It’s pure magic! When we have visitors The Selby is always on the list of “must sees” and now that they have The Green Orchid by Micheal’s on East you can indulge in a beautiful lunch after a morning of strolling the gardens. One thing you must understand is thereis nothing mundane about these gardens. My husband and kids love a visit! Side note, if you live in Sarasota, Lights in Bloom at Christmas time is unreal (I’ll do a follow-up post on that magic). So take my word for it and make it a point to visit this very special place.
Now to nerd out a bit…The Green Orchid by Michael’s on East is the world’s first net-positive energy restaurant. In addition, the restaurant uses organic produce from the rooftop garden as ingredients in their drinks and dishes…dreamy!
Swag Bag for Guests!
A little treat to welcome our guests at Four Palms. For my sister’s visit, I went a little kitschy with some quintessential items from our local surf shop. Florida Orange Bubble Gum in the mini carton (takes us back to our childhood vacationing in Melbourne Beach, FL), a Siesta Key koozie for those cold beverages, hydrating water, and animal crackers as a homage to Sarasota’s rich circus history.
A Very Floral 10th Birthday Party!
With Baby Bowden due any moment it was important for us to celebrate our Hadley turning 10 without going overboard. We kept it sweet and pretty. Flowers, finger foods, and fun! Sometimes ya just gotta keep it simple for your own sanity!
Trader Joe’s flowers all day every day!
All is calm (for the moment) at Four Palms!
It’s the little things, a quiet morning with a cup of coffee. Tom is at dropoff with the girls and I get a moment at the house all to myself! Soon Baby “B” will be here and life will look a whole lot different. Breathe.
Paint: Benjamin Moore Decorators White
Pendants: west elm
Vintage Bamboo Tables: The Woven Home (I painted after purchase)
Keep it Simple!
Long story short we had to tear up the flooring in 1/2 the house due to a horrible install so we did a little revamp of the girl’s room. New porcelain tile, fresh paint, and dismantled the bunks! I repurposed the top bunks and wallpapered the foot and headboards. I think the end result is adorable! Fresh and clean!
Paint: Benjamin Moore Pure White
Take Me To The Tropics Mocktail!
I think I nailed it with this one! The perfect poolside/sun-is-shining beverage! The amounts listed below will make one mocktail, you could easily make 2 by doubling the recipe. I put all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with a cup of ice and had a salted-rimmed glass ready to go! Another option is to pour cocktails over ice which is just as nice.
What you’ll need:
3 oz Orange Juice
1.5 oz Pineapple Juice
2 oz Coconut Water
.5 oz Maple Syrup
tbsp Coconut Cream
3 oz Ritual Non-Alcoholic Tequila
1 cup of Ice
Salt for rim
Casey Key Color Palette Inspiration
A form of therapy for me is early mornings on Casey Key shark tooth hunting. The surroundings may have a lot to do with it; from the aqua color of the gulf to the perfect little shells, and pelicans diving for a fresh catch, and of course the dolphins I find great solitude and peace in these moments. This paint palette comes from my most recent outing on the key. I plopped myself down on the sand and just looked around at all the natural tones surrounding me and thought how glorious is nature! I hope these colors inspire you!
All paint selections are Benjamin Moore.
Grapefruit Crush Mocktail!
Tastes like the real deal!
I’m down for a delicious cocktail, but being pregnant means a mocktail! The sad truth was every time I’ve ordered a mocktail at a restaurant it has been beyond horrible. I thought this could not be that hard…so with help from my loving husband, we succeeded in making a delicious mocktail! It also didn’t hurt that we handpicked our grapefruit from a local grove here in Sarasota!
What you’ll need for 2 mocktails:
1 1/2 oz per glass of Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative
4 oz per glass of freshly squeezed grapefruit – store-bought no added sugar grapefruit juice will work as well.
1 Lime (cut into 1/4 wedges)
TBS simple syrup per glass
2 crushed cups of ice (1 cup per glass)
good salt (you could kick it up a notch by adding chipotle to the salt)
First, lime the edge of the glasses then coat the lime-juiced rim in salt, and squeeze what remains of those 2 wedges of lime into the glasses. Add a cup of crushed ice per glass. Pour Ritual Tequila and grapefruit juice over ice. Finally, add the simple syrup and one more wedge of fresh lime to each glass. Stir and enjoy!
Florence And The Spice Boys!
Sarasota Living is a whole lot better with this restaurant in town! All I can say is Tumeric Fried Chicken Sandwich! Of course, there are other delicious eats on the menu including the sweet corn hummus, fried brussel sprouts, and house salad (the dressing is amazing). The vibe is super chill and there’s a cute area for kids to play!
Just go!
