Planters - 10 Ways To Beautify Your Outdoor Space

By Lisa VanWilliams

A little pop of color or life in an outdoor space can really make a bland spot feel more cozy and comfortable. Your eyes will be drawn to this instead of a dark corner, empty table top or a blank spot on the corner of the porch. We picked out some flower planters that can turn an ok chill spot into an incredibly Zen relaxing space you won't want to leave. Here are ten different ideas at ten different prices (and where you can buy them), only thing needed is to add your favorite flower or plant and enjoy!

$25.00 Small Buddha
https://www.etsy.com/listing/157369254/small-buddha-head-planter-buddha-head?ref=market

$39.98 Cedar Half Whisky Barrel
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-Real-Wood-26-in-dia-Cedar-Half-Whiskey-Barrel-Planter-G3056/204661482?N=5yc1vZbx4v

$41.66 Antique Revival French Square Planter

http://www.wayfair.com/Antique-Revival-French-Square-Planter-with-Wooden-Legs-BU043A-SQW1034.html

$72.99 Timbergirl Reclaimed Wood - Set of 2

http://www.sears.com/nbsp-reclaimed-wood-planter-box-india/p-SPM9191450217

$73.08 Tin Flower Planters - Set of 4

http://www.lightingdirect.com/IMAX-Home-4092-4-Tin-Flower-Planters-Set-of-4/p2626584?gclid=COaB-sz0qMYCFYU8gQodiT0A9w&source=gg-gba-pla_2626584____81603261449&ef_id=VYXEWAAABO-JM6lC:20150624180052:s

$79.99 Wine Crate Vertical Planter

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/wine-crate-vertical-planter/?pkey=e%7Cplanter%7C150%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C21&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules

$90.59 3 Metal Galvanized Planters

http://www.wildorchidquilts.net/rustic-set-of-3-metal-galvanized-planter-by-woodland-import-27534.html?utm_source=rustic-set-of-3-metal-galvanized-planter-by-woodland-import-27534&utm_medium=shopping%2Bengine&utm_campaign=froogle&gclid=COzj8933qMYCFVM7gQodqyENGg

$99 Acanthus Urn Planter
http://www.homedecorators.com/detail.php?sku=1511520270&aid=google.push&cm_mmc=SEM%7CHDC%7CG%7CPLA&gclid=CMam9dHyqMYCFY89gQodNnYMFg&kwid=productads-plaid^80964032059-sku^1511520270-adType^PLA-device^c-adid^66477398299

$149.95 Metal Boat

http://www.problemsolvers.com/handmade-recycled-metal-boat-plantercontainer.htm?aff=5512&gclid=CIqvzpTuqMYCFYc2gQodoocKdQ

$149-$299 Tuscan Planters
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/tuscan-pedestal-planters-white/?pkey=e%7Cplanters%7C36%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C48%7C%7C2&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules

Summer Appies - Chicken Salad or Strawberry Bruschetta

By Lisa VanWilliams

Here are two great appies to make if your having company over. The Chicken Salad is always a hit and it's a great way to incorporate some fresh herbs into the mix.  The Strawberry Bruschetta is like a strawberry jam but then there's more to it, little flavor bursts from the balsamic vinegar to the smooth creamy goat cheese make this a great anytime of day snack.  My Cousin made the Strawberry Bruschetta over a family weekend getaway and they were a big hit. Either one screams SUMMERTIME, and you will definitely be back for seconds on these tidbits.

Ingredients:

Baguette sliced into thin pieces

Chicken Salad
Ingredients:
1 leftover whole chicken broken down into bite size pieces
salt & pepper
2 sticks of celery
¼ of onion diced tiny
½ cup Craisins
½ cup lightly salted cashew pieces/halves
½ cup mayonnaise (or more if you prefer)


For Bread: Olive oil, cracked pepper, fresh oregano, fresh basil, fresh sage

Strawberry Bruschetta
Ingredients:
6 large strawberries diced
3 medium sized basil leaves sliced or cut
2 ounces crumbled goat cheese
balsamic vinegar (reduced)

Slice the Baguette into this slices. Half with have herbs and half just be olive oil drizzled over. I used a mix of oregano, basil, sage, and fresh cracked pepper for the chicken salad slices. Leave the strawberry bread with just olive oil. Bake these in oven on 350 for ten minutes. Remove to cool.  

To make reduced vinegar I poured 1/2 cup in a sauce pan and reduced it on medium heat, stirring occasionally until half of it disappeared and it was thick. It will smell terrible while it's reducing but somehow it tastes incredible at the end.   

Put your strawberry mixture over the oiled bread and then drizzle it with the balsamic reduction.

Put your chicken mixture over the herbed oil bread, and I topped with some fresh cut chives. 

Enjoy!

Cape Cod Style

By Lisa VanWilliams

Grey faded shingled Capes one after the other on some of the best landscaped lawns you will ever see. Fog rolling in from Martha's Vineyard with the faint murmur of the fog horn in the background and the smell of the ocean mist surrounds you.  This Caribbean of the North has it's own unique style and taste and you will be thinking about it long after you visit this magical place. These old sea towns take pride in their history and if you blink too fast, you will miss all the little things that make it so special.

If you have toddlers and babies, this a great place to visit because it's not that long of a drive from the New York area and it's kid friendly from the restaurants to the beaches. Quaint shops, Outlet Malls, sailing, paddle boarding, boat rides, whale watching, craft fairs, light houses, mini-golf galore (regular golf too!) and scenic drives are just a few things you can pack into a weekend or week long vacation adventure.

Here are a few of our favorite things....



Flower gardens and overstuffed flower boxes

 Nautical Nonsense

Lots of boats!

and the food...

Tropical Yogurt Fruit Bowl

By Lisa VanWilliams

Try some coconut yogurt mixed with some granola and your favorite fruits to power up and start your day off right. Trader's Joe's has two varieties of granola mix and they are both yummy. They make a corn based gluten free mix and today we tried the Cranberry Maple Nut. Enjoy!

Tatonka Chicken Salad

By Lisa VanWilliams

Try ground chicken instead of chicken breasts to take your Buffalo Chicken Salad to the next level! Craving the buffalo flavor without the fried? This will leave you totally satisfied without all the grease to boot. Plus it's really healthy, easy & quick to make.

Ingredients:
1 pound ground chicken
3 small celery stalks finely diced
1 large carrot grated or peeled
1 tablespoon coconut oil
2 tablespoons Franks Red Hot (or to your liking - more or less)
salt&pepper
Blue cheese dressing or crumbles
lettuce of choice

Directions:
In a pan saute the celery and carrots in coconut oil. Add the ground chicken and cook thoroughly. When it's almost done, add your red hot and mix well. Drop the chicken mix over lettuce and drizzle with your fav Blue cheese. Enjoy!

 

Grilled Shrimp With Arugula

By Lisa VanWilliams

This is simplicity at its best. I could eat this a few times a week and it just doesn't get old. The fresh taste of the shrimp over the peppery Arugula creates a perfectly palatable Summertime salad.

Ingredients:
1 pounds shrimp deveined with tails left on
2 cups Arugula salad
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
salt&pepper
1 lemon
coconut oil spray
½ plum tomato finely diced

Directions:
Peel and devein shrimp and put onto skewers. Spray the shrimp with the coconut olive oil. Salt and pepper the shrimp lightly.  In a bowl add the Arugula, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, squeeze of lemon juice, diced tomato, salt & pepper and toss. Grill the shrimp a few minutes on each side until the pink and gone and there is a little char on the shrimp to get that nice grilled flavor. Remove from grill and toss over salad. I served my with some rice pilaf, but you can remove that and make a no carb meal if you prefer. Enjoy!

Grilled Chicken Bacon Pizza on Garlic & Herb Dough

By Lisa VanWilliams

Trader Joe's has some really good tasting precooked grilled chicken strips. They are great to have on hand when hunger strikes for easy to make salads, sandwiches, pasta, pizza, etc.

They also sell a ready to bake Garlic & Herb pizza dough and if you add a few more items, you will have a slamming pizza pie all made right in your own kitchen. Today I used grilled chicken, semi-cooked bacon, fresh crushed garlic, garden basil, and sprinkled some crushed pepper and drizzled with a teeny bit of olive oil.

Ingredients:
1 ready to bake pizza dough
1 pack grilled chicken strips
1-2 cups mozzarella
2 cloves fresh crushed garlic
2 basil leaves cut into pieces
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
drizzle of olive oil

Directions:
Precook the bacon but leave it a little but under cooked as it will cook 10 mins more in oven. Spread your dough out on a pizza pan or cooking stone (spray with oil). Add some cheese, the chicken, sprinkle some crushed pepper, add more chicken, bacon pieces, and top with more cheese. Sprinkle the basil over the pie and put into oven on 425 for about 10 mins until dough it brown and the cheese bubbles. Enjoy!